Sneak Peek of the New Prius #10

DH's observations:

1. first thing out of his mouth: hey, they put the brake fluid back in the right place!
2. Wth is with the convoluted air intake system?
3. very happy about inverter coolant being easier to see
4. the inverter looks like they separated out the dc-dc converter based on size compared to camry hybrid's inverter (which has separate dc-dc converter)
5. did they finally get rid of that stupid plastic shroud up front?!
6. the engine has the same basic outline as the nz motor. it is chain timed. but the zz series looked kinda the same but is larger. it's hard to get a perspective in this shot.
7. interesting seeing the hsd logo on an engine shroud... engine shroud itself kinda odd for the prius.

 

that engine is really tall..

as i look from photo to photo.. and over again 100x's... i see the engine height has raised a good 4 to 6 inches.

is that an orange cable passing to the left hand side of the engine? is that engine rotated 180?

 

Valvematic is already out, it goes away with throttle valve... gives you more power with less consumption... most european toyota petrol engines will have it within 6 months (1.6l 133hp, 1.8 147hp, 2.0 152hp/158hp)....

 

i read the patents... execs said this model wouldn't get it... we'll see.

so.. higher compressions? i'm reading " the prius that changed the world" and it said at times the original prius reached up to a 50 to 1 ratio... it made me wonder what ratios this current engine goes through...

 

Damn. Looks like there's an internal combustion engine in there still. Just don't make it mandatory, 'K?

 

Holy Toledo, talk about a redesign. That is no warmed over Gen2 Prius, that is all new.

The silver cover badged with HSD appears to be the cover over the ICE, which appears to be notably larger in displacement. I cannot tell if the electric brain and motor would still be to the right looking into the engine compartment. The depression in the silver cover appears to be where the oil filler cap is.

 

Looks like an automobile engine to me!

Now, what do I win?

 

Compared to the old prius, that new engine looks HUGE.

Does this photo it tell anything about how many horses it will have?

 

Could it be that the engine isn't much taller but the hip line on the new car is lower?
I'm seeing a lot of conclusions being jumped to here.
I expect the plastic cover to assist in reducing valve train noise inside the car as well as retaining some heat inside the engine and keeping water out of the ignition.

 

Is it just me, or did they change the ICE/HSD arrangement? Looks like they are vertical to one another, instead of horizontal...

Dave

 

It's you.

 

I agree with Galaxee, in what's up with the convoluted multiple 90degree bend(s) air intake tube? That'll make for sluggish air flow. Gonna have to buy an intake vortex air spinner. ;-)
Guess there is only so much room in a small bay, eh?
(Note: My application of conventional forced air ideas may not work on this type of engine, don't try this at home, folks.)

Never did like the placement of the *expensive* inverter. Yes, it needs mondo cooling but anything over a minor bumper ding has the high potential to destroy it.
How about a cooling design like in modern CPU's, "a heat pipe(s)" leading to cooling fins under the carriage?
(Better yet, design the inverter housing as part of the heat transfer system). Think modified heat sink with cooling pipe.

I'd like to say I love the plasticky cheap faux aluminum engine cover, but I DON'T. Time to repaint at body color.

I'd love to see the body style.

Just random thoughts.

ZC1

 

Well, I remember hearing that the IGBTs in the inverter were going to get much smaller- maybe reason for the small inverter box on front bottom right. Although, if this is not it, could the front box be a converter or charger for a plug-in version?

The engine does look much larger. Looking at its larger head, intake tube diamter and placement (the block looks taller), I'd agree it looks like a 1.8.

 

well, with this pic, impossible to see what really up... but could it be conceivable that a air dam, placed with intake that diverts air completely around engine compartment so engine cooling in winter would be greatly reduced... what if a channel built from radiator as well.... close backend of channel which creates backpressure, which greatly reduces air flow thru radiator... get the idea?

 

I don't remember the Camry too well, but is that inverter coolant tank a heck of a lot larger??

Wayne

 

Where is the close-up of the automatic engine temp based grill blocker? Ugly 400 mile round trip last night. High 18F, low -2F.

48 MPG :yuck: 98% highway at 55 MPH. And that was with 75% 'DIY' foam pipe insulation blocking. Without a ScanGuage, I dare not go to 100%.

Come on Toyota, give us the automatic 'winter' accessory option. We don't need bigger 12V batteries and bigger starters like 'regular' cars, we need automatic insulation to keep the cold away from the engine. And block heaters with starter interlocks to keep fools like me from forgetting to unplug .

 

Intake ducting will do what our larger airfilter box is doing now. The new box is smaller and will contain just a filter with downward airflow. Commented on much earlier in post#5. The result will probably be less-sluggish airflow.

 

turbo!!!

 

well, we didn't dare say it.. but DH thought turbo too.