2010 Prius Preview, L.A. WOW it was FUN!!

Hi Ron,

It looks like the width of MG2 stator laminations has shrunk. This suggests they may have stronger rotor fields. The higher output voltage from the inverter suggests they are using more windings and thus lower current. This will reduce (I**2)*R losses and will save ohmic heating.

Can you estimate the wire gauge between the original and the new one?

Were you able to spot any levers or actuators that might shift or change internal planetary gears?

Bob Wilson

 

I agree with all of your comments in the first paragraph Bob. The laminations have definitely shrunk w/r/t the G2 Prius setup, and the resistive power losses will obviously be reduced at the same power levels due to the higher operating voltage and lower current.

I did not try to estimate whether or not they had reduced the wire gauge, but I am sure they ran the trade-offs on weight saving and power losses to determine the optimum gauge.

No levers or shift mechanisms appeared to exist on the PSD. I am intrigued however by the gear ratios that lie concealed within this much more compact unit than exists in the G2 drive. Given the fact that MG2 and MG1 apparently operate at higher limit speeds in G3, yet the ICE operates at relatively lower speed, I am guessing the sun gear is larger, the planetary carrier gears are smaller and the tooth count on the internal output gear of MG2 is lower; to what extent in each case we will learn eventually.

OTOH, maybe Toyota has invented some new magic altogether!

 

It was a nice beach day, afterall, lots to do in LA on a sunny warm Sunday. By the way, thanks to whoever turned in my lost cell phone. It must have dropped off while I was trying on cars. Thanks again, whoever it was.

 

We have an Outback wagon, and the new cargo area is at least as big as the Subaru, especially, considering how the Sube's seats don't completely fold out of the way. The extreme rear, past the wheel wells seems to be improved spacewise. I carry my road bike in both the Subaru, and our Prius from time to time, and the room seems about the same, the new one looks even better. keep in mind the sloping roof, but the carpeted false floor is removeable giving you an additional 5-6 inches in the prius, still true in the 2010. It looks like you have to fold the head rests down on the rear seat to lower the new prius seat backs.

 

Yes, but the indentations appeared to me to be more curvaceous than the creases in the G2 roofline, with better blending into the overall roof shape.

 

Frontal area will be larger since the roof will be flat (view from the front).

 

May daughter and I attended the show and we both had a great time. I wish the test drive was longer. I was embrassed that my daughter won the tee shirt. She knew more about the new features of car then I did.

We both wish to thank everyone for a great time. We learned a lot about al of the improvements that are coming and when my 05 gets old we will get another Prius. The car just gets better very year. We also have a 07.

The way the food was great too and everybody was very helpful and fun to talk to.

Thanks again

Larry and Rachel

 

The 2010 Prius is awefully like a SCION xD, except the drivetrain.

 

Actually, a great point to keep in mind for Prius Connection SF....for those invited...please bear in mind that many of your fellow enthusiasts have not been able to secure spots for this event. By RSVP'ing that you intend to come, we really do hope that you won't change your mind based on a simple thing like weather. It's a shame to leave a spot open that one of your fellow forum frequenters would have traded an arm to have...just something to keep in mind for this coming weekend. Thanks.

 

I have to disagree. To me these channels have more to do with internal passenger headroom than they do with any affect on external air flow. They are far too shallow to have much aerodynamic influence. And the boundary layer is turbulent well before the leading edge of the roofline.

 

Thanks for the feedback. The Canadian and Euro specs posted since my question suggest that the cargo weight rating is actually higher than my '97 Suby. The sloping roof isn't a problem, as I don't use that volume for travel -- too much flying missile risk in a collision. The bikes fit into my little Accord, so no question they will fit in this too.

So it ought to fully replace our Suby as a road trip car (except when chain checkpoints are possible), something the 2010 Insight doesn't appear quite big enough to do. But Suby will stay, for cargo hauling and winter, it is the Accord that will be replaced.

 

Hmmm ... it appears on reflection you may be right, since the center section of the roofline is ~3/4" higher than the edges on my 2008. Although it doesn't appear so when viewed from the side. They could be forming channels for controlling the vortices coming off the forward roof pillars.

Would love to see the full-scale wind-tunnel flow visualization tests Toyota must have performed, in tweaking the external profile to get the Cd down to 0.25.

 

So what's a good amount to tip the valet attendant?

 

I offered a tip but they refused...telling me it was already taken care of!