Toyota Reveals All-New Prius

I'll echo redbaron and say I wonder what the price will be.

We'll be keeping our 2005 for quite a while longer, but the more people driving efficient cars in whatever flavour, the better.

 

No - the answer is correct.

Because the engine speed is almost independent of the road speed there will be some scenarios where the engine is delivering 98HP and MG2 is delivering its 80HP.

Even though the battery can only deliver 36HP some of the engine power is also transferred through MG1 into MG2 bringing the net system power to 134HP.

The most likely case for this to occur is at a fairly high speed up a hill - at low road speeds MG2 is torque (equivalent to current) limited not power limited.

kevin

 

I'm stunned...

 

Spectacular.

 

First impression: *drool*.

Our 2004 Sienna has dynamic cruise control. We absolutely love it. Nice to see such technology making its' way down to the Prius. Yeah, it won't help for hyper-milers, but then again, I don't think hyper-milers use the regular cruise to begin with.

I like the solar sun/moon roof. And the new display setup. And the new driving modes.

If it had the plug-in option, then I might be tempted to get a 2010 as soon as my '05 is paid off (November 2009). On the other hand, not having car payments for a few years (at nearly $600 a month) is also very attractive. I always swore I'd keep the car for at least 8 to 9 years (length of time I had the previous car).

 

Any ideas on how different the power mode vs eco mode will be?

 

Lets all remember, we are still running on 185/65-15 tires people. Even if it had that much more power, everytime somebody tried to use it in the uncertain pavement of the real world, it would just slip and trigger the traction control.

In the real world, this Prius may actually be slower than the gen 2 Prius, because of the tires wont be able to move the extra weight along predictably.

 

The motor gets its power from BOTH the engine and battery. The Battery HP is the power you add to the engine to get the system HP. And apparently this battery is setup to deliver 36 HP.

The motor needs to be 80 HP to take the engine/MG1 electricity besides the battery electricity. So, that means MG1 can deliver pulses of up to 46 HP, power that comes from the engine.

 

Any word on when you'll (Danny) be able to take a test drive and report?

 

You can test it out for yourself by visiting your local Toyota store tomorrow and test driving the current 08 or 09 HH. That vehicle already has it along with EV mode.

EV Mode... you can only engage it when the battery is full, so normally not at start up first thing in the AM. When you do engage it the ICE is blocked from kicking in a) as long as the speed is lower than 25 mph and b) as long as the battery has sufficient charge. It's good for about 3/4 of a mile.

ECO-Mode... you can engage or disengage this anytime at any speed. It makes the vehicle feel like it has no guts whatsoever. Toyota described it as de-sensitizing the gas pedal. But it's good for fuel economy.

Power Mode... hit the pedal and GO!!

Try it on the HH. You'll see the difference right away.

 

Thank you!!!

I knew it had to be that simple.

So, while sitting still, shift into neutral, rev the engine to redline, shift back into drive, and ... :car:
DISCLAIMER: this may void the warranty on your transmission and I assume no responsibility. (psst. send me a link to your Youtube video )

 

I offer a different explaination:

Gearing and efficiency bands. The ICE/MGs are geared such that while individually they have XX horsepower, they achieve that HP at different RPMs. The "maximum horsepower" RPM is never achieved from both components at the same time due to gearing.

For example, if the ICE's maximum efficency was at 5000 rpm, and the electric motor power band was at 1000 rpm for both MGs.

Toyota Prius - Power Split Device Judging by the gearing, its physically impossible.


edit: whoops, didn't notice someone had already offered this explanation (must have had this thread opened like 10 hours ago and didn't refresh)

Oh, and its impossible to start the ICE while in neutral.

 

Quick question, since I normally shift into neutral a lot in my Corolla to maintain momentum and improve mpG: if you are driving a GenII Prius at 45mpH, and you shift into neutral, will the engine shut off or will it remain on?
Thanks.

 

Did anybody mention the truncated Sharkfin (Sharklet?) on the sunroof photo? Is that for some optional feature? The other photos have a smoother version of the existing whip antenna. Just wondering ...

 

Has the maximum EV/engine stop speed been listed yet?

The way ford was touting their 47 mph speed I thought toyota would be leading with that value.

 

When in neutral the engine state doesn't change, so if you shifted into neutral when it was running it wouldn't stop. If it wasn't running it wouldn't start (yup, you could drain the battery down in this case, but the car would shut off eventually, before that happens. Besides, the system can't charge the battery while in neutral anyway.)

We (most of us) don't shift into neutral in the Prius while moving. It really doesn't gain you anything. If you modulate the throttle you can achieve the same thing.

 

I find some of the comments rather interesting.

I'm not sure how many of you are actually -racing- on public roads, because -MY- Prius has plenty of power. The ONLY time I've ever wanted more was when backing up in snow or mud or woodchips or up a steep hill. This is because when backing up you are running electric only, so the power is limited. In "D" the HP only really limits max. speed, and I've never had trouble maintaining the legal limit +15 km/hr, even on the steepest hills at maximum freeway speeds. In fact, I've passed SUVs with powerful V6s on said hills, in cruise! Burning 1/3 as much fuel!

There have been many many complaints of the steering wheel lighting, having to look down to find "the button", etc. Toyota addressed that. So you DID want the controls displayed on the dash!

The new car -should- be lighter than the second gen. They have reduced the weight of the power plant and some body parts. We don't yet have specs. on actual weight. The sunroof -will- increase the weight of course (glass is heavier than aluminum or thin steel).

The stated MPG is "estimated". Wait for measurements before jumping to conclusions. In fact, wait for owners experiences before jumping to conclusions.

I like the car. I don't think I would want the auto cruise microwave system or the emergency phone. I wonder about the LED headlamps. Sounds interesting, but it's something we in Canada probably don't have to worry about. I doubt Toyota Canada will offer it. In fact, the only thing -I- worry about is what option packages will be offered in Canada. We never got leather or HIDs in the gen 2.

But unless the local dealer really wants to deal, I'm kind of stuck with Pearl for awhile. Something that isn't bad, just life.

 

Gen III Prius

DETROIT SHOW: Toyota launches 3G Prius

13 January 2009 | Source: just-auto.com editorial team
view 5 related images

Toyota blitzed the Detroit show with its redesigned Prius, its first hybrid-only Lexus sedan and an electric vehicle concept based on the new iQ city car that has just gone on sale here in England.
'Leaked' photos on the internet a few months ago revealed most details of the revamped Prius on sale in the US "in late spring". Among other things, the 'official' debut revealed a new opening glass roof option with solar panels and a considerably revamped central information display panel that includes a 'Welcome to Prius' message on start-up and hybrid system information inside a diagram of the car.
Toyota said the redesigned third-generation Prius is more fuel efficient (the outgoing model has been criticised here in Europe for not achieving its 'official' fuel consumption figures in real-world driving), better performance, and new design features.

DETROIT SHOW: Toyota launches 3G Prius from: just-auto

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/2010-prius-reveal-speech.aspx

 

Above 42 mph the ICE will be spinning and firing as you slow down. As you slow down even further and get below 42 ( I've noticed it at about 38 mph ) the ICE turns off entirely. You're ballistic coasting ( love that terminology ).