Original Prius 2010 commercial #1 (blue man crew)

I just added the Iconic 04-09 Prius Aerodynamic video in my post #132.

The Icon Prius tail points down while the 2010 Prius tail is pretty much level flat. Other than that, there isn't much difference.

BTW, I use this free online tool to make these videos.

 

Ok, I will do the Classic Prius next. I need a clean side view pic of the Classic Prius. I googled the image it but did not find the one I am satisfy with. If anyone can PM me the link or the pic, it will definitely help.

 

What type of radar are the auto manufacturers using? The reason I ask is because I hope it doesn't interfere with my radar detector, and I'm sure the police agencies are just as concerned that it doesn't interfere with their equipment either. :mod:

 

they way things work, they would be on different frequency than your police radards, everyone got their piece of the spectrum... otherwise they would be forbidden to sell it.

 

that particular button is radar distance control... night vision is button on the side of the steering wheel on crown hybrid (on dash, like mirror buttons)... Avensis wont have it though so I am not sure if Prius gets it... I mean radar distance control+line keep is quite expensive, not sure if people want Prius to become even more expensive

 

Aerodynamics? Aptera wins that award.
I thought the boomerang was an allusion to the hybrid synergy drive. You throw the car forward with the accelerator, then you recapture the energy back with the regenerative braking.

I sure hope you are talking about accident prevention and not cruise control. If they coupled radar distance with cruise control, the statistics of people falling asleep at the wheel would skyrocket. How lazy are people, anyway? If I was the head of the NHTSA, I would call for a ban on such functionality. For accident prevention though, it is an excellent life-saving technology.


Oh, and fyi: I though "photon torpedoes" referred to flashing your brights at someone. Isn't that what was implied by that?
(how about a device that detects an imminent collision from an irresponsible SUV driver, and fires a missile at them?)

 

OWCH! I have to scamper off to work. When I get home tonight, I'll take my NHW11 to the side of building with light colored wall and take a photo. I'll trim it down into a "white background" and "black body" including the slotted spoiler.

I look forward to adding some tuft testing and other techniques to actually photo graph the air flow and compare to the model.

BACKGROUND

When I first got my NHW11 Prius, I soon learned there was a terrific mileage hit at ~70 mph. At 65 mph, I get 52 MPG all day long but 75 mph drops it to 39 MPG. My first hypothesis was flow separation. Later I realized the problem is in part the MG1 rpm limitation that forces the engine to run faster than idle at all speeds. This also combines with the bad habit of going into poor BSFC regions. So I put aside my aerodynamic studies.

Now I'm interested in completing those studies to compare an aerodynamic model versus the actual vehicle. I'm not expecting any great revelations but I would like to submit two outlines, one showing side skirts and an air dam.

THANKS!
Bob Wilson

 

you need to read a bit about radar cruise controls... basically it slows and speeds up your car according to traffic. I dont see hows that any worse than normal cruise control - in fact it is a lot better.

However it will not work without cruise control... it will not slow down your car unless you have it and cruise control activated.

Pre-crash system will do its thing regardless but precrash will not slow down your car, just prepare it for the crash

 

Pre-crash, sounds like a crash is inevitable once it starts working.

Should it be collision avoidance?

 

thats what radar based cruise control is... pre-crash is when crash is going to happen ... it tightens your seat belts, closes windows/sunroof, boosts brake assists and ESP so they will react much quicker, things like that.

radar based cruise control will slow your car down if someone stops in front of you and things like that.

lane keep assist will warn you when you are going into different lane, and make slight adjustments so going back to the lane will be easier.

VSC+ is VSC/ESP on steroids, which also makes slight power steering adjustments so you will fell what is better way of turning your wheel to get car under control.

Quite few modern systems in there, all state of the art - precrash and radar cruise control in this form were introduced less than 2 years ago with LS... and this is improved system.

 

The 'VSC+' here is called VDIM, a linkage to the EPS as you explained. The TCH and the HH both have it now.

The Avalon here has had the Radar Cruise Control for several years now as well.

None of the Toyota's have the Accident Avoidance nor Lane-Keeping technology...yet.

 

there are 2 different systems - VSC+ and VDIM, for some reason Toyota is not calling them the same. New Rav4 and new Avensis got VSC+...

As to the radar, few newer Toyotas have it as expensive option, but only new Avensis is coming with the latest version which i guess Prius will have, and that is actually cheaper because they expect it to sell to wider audience.

It will be standard at higher spec Avensis, which will probably bring the cost of system down. It sure helps that new EuroNCAP regulations mandates for cars to have such system available if they are to get 5 stars rating.

 

Okay, I immediately see your point. Thank you.

In response to the second quoted paragraph: Actually, some of the newer systems from BMW and Mercedes apply the brakes if a rear-end collision is imminent. One of the demo commercials shows a vehicle following another vehicle and the vehicle in front has slowed but the driver in the back is either distracted, not looking, or fell asleep for a second or two, and the vehicle automatically applies the ABS brakes once the vehicle is within a certain distance from the car in front. It's a last attempt effort. The video shows the vehicle stopping just inches away from impact. This system is either brand new, or will not be available until the 2010 models.
I assume it also works with brick walls and cows.

 

Also remember the fully optioned Prius may not be the car you choose to park in your garage due to the price of the options. Just because you think a range of accesories will raise the price beyond what you are willing to pay does not mean no one will be willing to pay the price.

The price difference here between the standars Prius and the iTech (top if the range of 2 trim levels available) is $9000AU or about 25% of the price of the standard Prius.

In the US you can pay MSRP of $22,000 for a basic Prius up to $29,000 for a fully optioned Touring Prius package #6 or an increase of about 33% so there is plenty of room for a basic to full range of options 2010 Prius.

I'd love to see what we will be able to buy in Australia.

 

Prius will get more advanced system than PCS in LS600h.... It is simply newer version of the system that also integrates like keep assist/warning.

We already know it is coming for Avensis, and same system will be in Euro prius (again for EuroNCAP 5 stars reasons).

It is simply newer technology, introduced this year on new Crown...

 

yes, but only if radar cruise control is on - it will not slow down by itself without it being on... it could cause crash if you were just driving fast.

And of course, Toyota had first version of the system on actual sale in LS430 (MB advertised it buy you could not buy it)... that first system could slow down up to 40km/h. Then latest S600 got system that could stop completly, and LS460 got the same system.

Now latest systems also integrate line keep/change system, so what Prius will get is the latest tech that just came out on high end Crown Hybrid in Japan.

LS will probably get updated at the facelift, as will every Toyota in Europe when it is redesigned as no car will be able to get 5 stars without such system.

And in Europe, 5 stars crash protection is pretty huge deal. New system comes in place in 2009, and pretty much makes manufacturers integrate pre-crash system into their cars, as every good older car already got 5 stars... so it is bad advertising that your new Golf got 4 stars while old one had 5, even though new one is more secure .

It is just awesome, under the belt, move by EuroNCAP .

 

Not true.

NCAP test standards for 2009 make mandatory to have ESC alone.

There is nothing said about pre-crash, automatic cruise control or any other system. Electronic stability control of any kind is the only thing asked for.

"In particular, it will be impossible for a carmaker to achieve five stars in the tested vehicle without the standard fitment of electronic stability control (ESC) in the majority of variants sold."