New Prius C... it's now AWD

yes, using electric motor at the back would be cool, but not really awd then - nevertheless, thats not coming in Prius c and Motortrend is just dumb

 

I agree. The only reason why they might put in a rear motor is because they are going to use a real small Atkinson cycle ICE and the rear motor would help with acceleration. That being said, yeah Motortrend has the wrong info on the wrong car.

 

With Toyota already having said that the Prius c will achieve greater MPG than the regular Prius, let's keep in mind that MPG is the main goal here. As we all know, from Gen I Prius to Gen II Prius to Gen III Prius, the Gen III Prius has been highly optimized to get it's 51mpg. Exceeding that 51mpg is going to be quite a challenge. Adding AWD may be a very useful feature in a vehicle, but since it adds weight and consumes more power, this is not conducive to Toyota's main goal with the Prius c. If Toyota is able to exceed the 51mpg, adding AWD, which reduces MPG, would defeat their whole purpose. With the Prius c, Toyota wants to further secure the image of the automaker with a vehicle that has hybrid mpg higher than any other automaker.
If Toyota does decide to produce an AWD vehicle, it will definitely not be standard on a Prius c. I think the Rav 4 suggestion above seems a lot more probable.

 

First, let me say, I have no real knowledge. Yes I am admitting I don't know. Motor Trend described a car that is $22K at base. If its a juke competitor, there is likely a awd and fwd version as the juke, giving an optional add on of a rear axle motor. They also said Lion battery and new hsd and 1.5L engine.

agreed, but if motor trend is right they have changed their goal. It may get a little more mpg than the standard prius, while being more expensive and more different than they originally described. Lion and 4 wheel regenerative braking and lower weight might give more efficiency gain in city driving. Highway mileage shouldn't change at all with the awd and lion versus fwd nimh, if you look at the Lexus RX for reference to toyota's hybrid awd.

I just don't know, but this MT vehicle may be what toyota has changed the car into. Its not out until next year, but I'm sure we will hear more soon.

 

but Motortrend is not right at all, so who cares what they say.

Toyota 3 days ago at dealer conference said that Prius c will have the best MPG of any hybrid in the USA.

Mototrend claims it will be as big as Prius v and AWD.

They are just stupid

 

I dont know why lion matters in hybrid at all... 20lbs savings? unproven reliability? no gain in mpg? same space utilization overall? Just check Sonata Hybrid's trunk space.

 

2012 Subaru Impreza if you want an AWD that works. Not everyone makes AWD systems the same which is something you should consider when looking at a Toyota AWD.

 

IIRC, the RAV4 is available in both 2WD and AWD variations.

Perhaps the Prius-c will be offered in:
* a standard, highest MPG 2WD version,
* and a AWD version for those that want/need higher traction with an attendant 5-10% MPG drop.

 

The Impreza is a small car and the Outback is great, but gets only 30 MPG.

Yes, but it oesn't get good MPG.

Again, see the MPG figures for the Highlander hybrid. There is virtually no MPG hit for Toyota's "simulated" AWD. I Don't need AWD for off road use, only for extra traction in the winter.

JeffD

 

The "new" 2012 Impreza (Forester, small SUV, is based on the Impreza platform) gets close to 40 mpg; actually Subaru is claiming 36 mpg even w/automatic transmission and best of all "AWD".

There is space in the market IMO for both Toyota, and Subaru; I drive a Prius as my commuter car (45+ mpg is the reason) and grocery getter vehicle. My family also has another vehicle - a Subaru Forester (my wife's daily driver) for hauling kids to summer camp, camping, Tahoe, driving on the sand @ Pismo Beach, etc...

We purchased ea for these reason. And Subaru was in our mind for its safety features and AWD as the vehicle of our choice for our family adventures/outdoor activities not the Prius.

I don't think Subaru is behind by not making a hybrid today (IMO we still have a long way to go with battery technology - I see ligther/smaller (perhaps size of the starting battery) and more reserve capacity/longer range in the future which will take some more time). In the meantime, I think Subaru realize family like "mine" who still buy a Subaru (great visibility, safety and AWD) even though not a Hybrid. Focus is safety and AWD. Yet they realize importantance of high mpg - hence release of 2012 Impreza w/AWD. I can see next gen Forester and other Subaru to follow w/higher mpg.

 

That picture labeled Prius C looks more like the Prius V. I think they did get it wrong.

 

Yep, they got it all wrong. The 3rd picture is not the v, but the smaller c which is distinctive by the rear flaired fender and hatch!

Another look!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-k6jcTjl9o]YouTube - ‪Prius C Spy Video‬‏[/ame]

 

I'm not sure here you pulled those numbers from but they are not on the Subaru site nor Fueleconomy.gov.

Subaru Impreza | Impreza Compare Tool

The Impreza is rated for 20/27 at best for the 2011. Did they somehow boost fuel economy by over 40% for 2012?

*edit* found it. It's 36mpg HIGHWAY.
http://www.subaru.com/impreza/2012/index.html?s_kwcid=2012 impreza&gclid=CPGl5LTT6KkCFQtggwodXBLCYA

 

Not for 2012. For 2011, yes, but that's not the model year I was talking about now is it? The Prius C is a small car too. Do you have a point? The 2012 Subaru Impreza is the most fuel efficient AWD vehicle in the United States. And to top it off, the AWD in the automatic transmission 2009+ Subaru Impreza (or Forester for comparisons) does its job in a competent manner unlike the Toyota RAV4. The video on Subaru's website under "Why Subaru" in the All Wheel Drive section says more than enough. I'd post a link if I had enough posts though.

You could say "well the 4WD/AWD system in the RAV4 is enough for most people" but that's not even what I'm pointing out to begin with.

 

Why are you comparing an Impreza to a Rav4? They are two totally different vehicles.

 

Clearly you didn't read all of my post or completely skipped over this part (I put it in bold, italics, and underlined it for you):

"And to top it off, the AWD in the automatic transmission 2009+ Subaru Impreza (or Forester for comparisons) does its job in a competent manner unlike the Toyota RAV4."

 

That is strictly your opinion. You can put you Subaru pom poms down now and drop the sacrasm.

 

Our european 07 RAV4 (smaller than in the US) has an intelligent AWD. In normal conditins it's FWD what results in the good mpg we achieve with if. When needed the system switches to AWD, what is noticeable as the fronts get a little slip before the rears switch in. For special dituation it has a diif lock. We have to use it about ine or two times a year.

So everyone who says that AWD sacrifies MPG is right unless it's an intelligent one. And Toyota has it already and for sure it will work very well in a hybrid car too.

 

Originally Posted by ursle
a loss of 10 mpg

Apples and oranges, I get 32 with my 06 highlander, don't have a 2 wheel drive one, my point is 4 wheel drive is redundant if one has front wheel drive with studs, 2 wheels or 4 wheels, I'd suggest putting them on all 4.
A 2 wheel drive audi or vw gets about 10mpg more than an all wheel drive one is where I got it, show me a 4 wheel drive prius and a 2 wheel drive prius, more weight, more friction from turning objects, show me the numbers, not the electrons