Featured 2023 Prius spy shot

2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid | Toyota.com
The US has the corolla cross hybrid, the American verson of that era hatch hybrid.

 

As @Trollbait has stated previously in another thread, the Prius is listed as a sedan with a hatch. The Corolla Cross (and I assume the hybrid version) is listed under the Crossover/SUV banner. Purely marketing slots but that's currently what Toyota is aiming for.

You're probably correct about the 2L since it was recently reengineered for a 41% thermal efficiency. It is a big confusing mess about the Prius Prime as I've read anything between the C-HR morphing into either part of the bZ family or the Prius family (as the Prius Prime) or both. The Prius hybrid seems to be written in stone since we already have dimensions, powertrains and a spy shot.

 

That would have improved my opinion although some of the control laws drove me nuts below 55 F (13 C.) Still, I could have lived with it.

Bob Wilson

 

Why would Toyota be going up to 17kWh when that's never been necessary to get the full tax deduction.

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They did 18kWh for the Rav4 Prime.

 

Well, all that ^ and ^^, but the full tax deduction is over (in the U.S.) since they went past the 200K, and only marginal incentives continue now. The batteries won't be North American made, so that eliminates next years (U.S.) deduction as well, unless Toyota has some N.A. assembly magic they haven't announced yet. News flash: they won't.

If Toyota doesn't make the entire Prius Gen5 line PHEV (at least models for sale in North America), the reviewers will just yawn, or worse. Sedans are still losing more of their piece of the pie. So, either way, it might not make much difference what they do, since sales of the Prii are withering away. My wife doesn't even want my Prius Prime, and I'm giving it to her to replace her 2013 when my next car arrives.

 

Must have been because I traded in the 2017 Prius Prime, ~8 kWh, instead of the 2014 BMW i3-REx, 18 kWh. <GRINS>

It is the right direction but now I've got 81,000 miles on our 2019 Tesla Model 3 and it is not for sale. However, we may trade it in after the IRA bill becomes law for a Tesla Model Y. <WINK>

Bob Wilson

 

I hope the battery isn't that big. That's just adding cost and weight for range that most people won't need on a daily basis. If they intend to increase the price significantly, they should put a Lexus badge on it.

I'm hoping for about a 12 kwh battery, improved electric power and e-awd.

 

EV battery technology has considerably advanced since 2014 so the cost and weight gains are minimal ... if they can buy them. The mass adoption of EV technology has caught the suppliers short which drives up the manufacturer costs. But additional weight should not be an issue thanks to EV battery technology advances.

Bob Wilson

 

From what I understand, the Prime is slower than the regular models now due to the way they needed to gear a part of the transmission for the battery power, so perhaps the 2L is making up for the speed loss?

 

Is the Prime tranny much different except for the addition of the sprag clutch (which is really between the engine block and the flywheel)? my understanding was that just gives it one more operating regime the spragless version doesn't have.

 

I don't think the North American+ supply requirements for the plug in credit go into effect next year. Looks like there is only the one of not getting them from a foreign entity 'of concern'. The NA final assembly one is already in place. Toyota might be able to move the Rav4p production here if they push it. The hybrid is already made here.

The E-awd adds cost and weight for something that people don't need on a daily basis.

A large research survey of current and past plug in owners returned that people want 176 miles in a PHEV. More importantly for Toyota, there is range requirements tied to incentives around the world.

Plenty of space under that hood for more battery.

In the EV mode, it had a slower 0 to 60 time than the Prius. Otherwise they were really close.

The 2L in the new one could be to make up for heavier weight from the battery, but I think Toyota is shifting their PHEVs to be power hybrids to compete with what most of the world's available PHEVs, and also BEVs. The Rav4p might be the fastest car the Toyota brand sells.

 

What’s the best way to follow any updates on the 2023 Prius models? I’ve been waiting for a 2022. Next allocation is occurring at my local dealership but I was hoping to see the 2023 specs before committing.

I dislike the big screen and smaller hatch area of the 2022 Prime and I’m feeling I’ll regret choosing the 2022 Prius AWD after a few years. I’m not in the position to trade in every few years.

Are there any other cars I should be looking at within this price range? : / I LOVE my 2009 as long as cat doesn’t get stolen again!
Thanks!

 

The sprang allowed both motors to work as a single, forward motor instead of MG1 trying to turn the engine backwards. <grins>

Bob Wilson

 

Yeah, that's the regime the ECU would have to avoid going into in a non-Prime, as in that case it would end up turning the engine backwards.

 

It's what I garnered from watching the video tear-down of the Gen4 transmission. Perhaps I misunderstood.

 

Wow...I'm definitely impressed at how close it looks to the illustrations.

I've been eagerly awaiting info on this as it very well may be my next car. And I've been waiting a LONG time ( I skipped the 4th gen models ).