4th generation coming 2015!

Bet the only thing they change for '14 are some package options. Ought to have the full power seat in the Persona. Softex and not even power lumbar bit of a rip.

Said it before, but hope Acc Hy is a serious effort, but who knows.

 

What's this ... Edmunds is showing '2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback' on their page and I know they're not talking about a carryover. So, they are believing the 4th gen will be a 2015 model year, target launch Fall 2014 and calling a 5 yr run on 3rd gen. Ok, cool

2015 Toyota Prius Review | Edmunds.com

 

Sounds good to me. Interestingly, if Edmunds is accurate, then we were all correct in our Prius Chat speculations: I said they needed to do something special for 2014; others said the test mule was a 2015; the only one that seems off, is the prediction that the G4 would be a 2016.

 

No way 4th gen Prius will be a model year 2014. I think we'll be looking at a few minor updates for next year.

In Summer of 2008, dealers said there would be an all new Prius coming in a year. Around that time a salesguy from Toyo Sunnyvale confirmed it would have the 1.8L engine.

I don't think Toyota will reveal a 4th generation Prius next January, but perhaps they will reveal some all new plug-in hybrid sedan considering Ford and Honda both have theirs out now. Seems it might be based on the NS4 concept from Detroit show this year. They must have revealed the NS4 for some reason. The Furia concept will become the 2014 Corolla early next year.

 

Anyone know why the liftback with 15's feels a bit foul turning in, going around corners and doesn't feel so planted to the ground in general? Is it the torsion beam rear suspension which by the way is usually only found on the lower end cars out there (i.e. even Civic has indy rear suspension)

Does liftback have a fairly high center of gravity? I guess 15's / 195s bring it down a bit?
Maybe front / rear wheel weight distribution is 'unusual' ?

Not that I'm a Camry SE fanatic, and it's a heavier midsize, but could we get 'some' more of that in 4th gen? ...

Does the liftback handle as well as Civic Hybrid? Thought I heard it didn't a few years ago.

 

cycledrum, you seem pretty sure of your opinion.

But, no one said the G4 would be a "model year 2014." It was you that posted that Edmunds suggested the G4 would be released in the fall of 2014 as a model year 2015. That seems like a very credible statement, and does not seem to conflict with any of the posted speculations..

Personally, I wish Toyota would be more definitive about their plans. I intend to buy a new hybrid in 2014, but would wait until the fall of 2014 if the G4 is released. Otherwise, there are other attractive hybrids on the market.

 

I find my Persona handles well.. upgrade to 17's and Plus springs.

 

The car does understeer when you really push it but not any more than your typical FWD car. Of course there is room for improvement, but with the 15's wheels and high ride height, those are still the limiting factors.

A CT200h is a perfect example.. put 15" wheels and raise ride height, I am sure handling will suffer substantially.

 

Moderator - I appreciate your comment, and I understand you point. It is not my intent to be argumentative, but that doesn't change my "wish" they would be more forthcoming..... and that is all it was, a wish.

I am an architect. A client would not be very happy if we could do no better than say your design will be finished sometime between 2014 and 2016. Perhaps, a poor example, but a successful building design must include not only visual (aesthetic) as well as functional (horizontal and vertical) considerations, but also structural, environmental protection, mechanical, electrical, plumbing issues and fire protection, each of which must work reliably within the building envelope, and must all be accomplished within the client's budget. In varying degrees, that is what I deal with on a daily basis.

 

TOYOTA NS4 video at the 6th Buenos Aires International Motor Show - June 20 - 30, 2013
Video: Toyota

 

I came across an old article from about 2007 (forgot the source) where Toyota was accused by something like Wall Street Journal of 'being behind on 3rd gen Prius development due to battery issues'. I recall hearing some of the fallout back in 2008. Toyota responded at the time the effect that 'we don't put hard and fast dates early on of when a new car will be released. We work on it until it's right and don't make release promises a year and half in advance'. That was the gist of it. Same goes this time around. Just too early to give when they'll release the car. They'll know when 'it's almost cooked' (maybe 6 to 9 months beforehand?).

 

Okay, looks all cool and radical. Could the beltline be any higher on it? Suppose it's answer to Fusion Energi and Accord Plugin. Well over $40

 

Let's speculate on the engine side from theoretical point of view if the rumour of "updated 1.8 engine" is true

- valvematic - engine is not controlled by the throttle but directly by the valves, question is if there is any benefit doing this on the HSD, because engine always operates in high load. The benefit could be greater efficiency in low power mode, currently the engine operates from around 8-10kW of power, maybe they could lower this or get greater efficiency around that value.
- higher compression and expansion ratio, obviously those two are not the same in current engine (Atkinson cycle). Mazda produced a similar engine with skyactiv, but as far as I have read they still managed a higher compression ratio than Prius engine, this brings us more power (2.0 has 165 HP). If Toyota manages to add more compression without knock, this basicly means the expansion cycle can be even greater and boosting efficiency.
- direct injection - higher compression cycle can probably be only achieved with DI, as mentioned by someone else they could mix DI and port injection. When the engine would operate in low load mode the difference between compression and expansion ratio could be very high and compression cycle would be low enough to work with normal port injection. On higher power the engine would use high compression and DI maintaining high efficiency and producing more power.

Result would be, if they stick with the same 1.8 displacement, higher power and torque. The engine would not rev so high when you would need more power to accelerate and efficiency when accelerating above 40-50kW would be much greater. Engine in HSD must produce high efficiency in wide range of power demand, rpm doesn't matter much, we have seen this evolution from 1.5 to 1.8 liter engine, I think we will see this range expand even more with next gen.

 

RE : TOYOTA NS4 video at the 6th Buenos Aires International Motor Show - June 20 - 30, 2013

I absolutely love everything they say about the NS4 and how it looks. I really really really hope this makes it into production either as Prius Gen IV or another model.

 

Prius Sales Need a Charge

I rest my case....
They better not come out with more if the same.....

Alan.. Sent with Galaxy S4

 

Trust me ... Toyota won't place power & cool looks above mpg (sacrificing efficiency & low cd) because Toyota sees the writing on the wall. Fuel costs must necessarily continue their upward climb. The MPG ga ga factor will become #1 priority as we hit $5, $6, & $7 a gallon.
How soon we forget GM was driven into bankruptcy because fuel was too expensive to run their cool looking high powered land barges. Even as GM's land barge sales were floundering ... and they jettesoned the Hummor, Gen II Prius sales began to soar.
Act II is just around the corner. Only the mpg champions will prevail.