Facelift expected for 07, 08?

I think the current guess is a complete/partial redesign around 08 or 09, but nobody has any firm information yet (and naturally, Toyota won't release it too far ahead of a new model launch).

Until then, it will likely be incremental upgrades

Dave

 

The next Prius is coming out in Fall 2008 as 2009 model. We just had a major (relatively speaking) facelift this year (2006). I don't think there will be anything major for 2007 or 2008 model years. Honda/Toyota usually do mid-model year refreshing. We just had one for Prius. Just my opinion.

 

Hey how do you like your Escape Hybrid? Did you have to wait to get it? What's your mpg's?

 

we're thinkng about going the other way... Getting a Ford Hybrid for my Fiancee.. We will soon have two large dogs and sometime after that probably a kid. Not sure we can fit the 5 to be of us into a prius so we want a station wagon. The best we can find right now is the ford *but we don't like it's looks*.

Ford (or anyone else)! Please introduce a Hybrid 4 cylinder (or less) true FE station wagon hybrid (the edge hyrbiud would ROCK!). It seems like toyota is dropping the ball as the only thing you can get is that mini-van wanna be highlander and its WAY to big. Toyota, give us so the RAV as a hybrid (or better yet a smaller new cute ute hybrid as the rav IV is now too big)

 

I do wonder how much they plan on changing the look of the next Prius? The change from the first Prius in the US to the ones we know now was pretty big. It should be interesting to see how much it changes... And guesses or thoughts?

 

Did miss a memo or was that for vanishingly small values of "relatively". The 2006 added some leather seats (there goes the PETA market), chrome trim, MP3 player, rear view camera, hires screen, new paint -- pretty much cosmetic stuff, nothing in the drive train I'm aware of. I would expect a model refresh, mid 2007, early 2008 model years, to consist of a power train upgrade (more volts!!!), perhaps a sporty coupe (isn't the celica going away?), more electronic gewgaws like automatic, personalized ergonomics, a moon roof!!

 

I hope they dont mess with the prius styling too much....the current styling looks great IMO.

If they really wanted to make it uber geeky, they could do wing doors and make it talk, KITT

 

I had heard while in a Toyota Focus Group (an easy $100) that next years will come will door side protection. You know the ones that we are all paying $120 plus installation for. Someone asked if Toyota is doing it as a response to complaints from present owners. The host turned to the one-way glass partition and said you guys have heard that didn't you?

We'll see. That and hopefully to get rid of that sway we deal with.

 

i've seen side molding.. it looks good in person.

I agree with what a few people have mentioned. The prius just went through a change. The S.F. Bay Area had a club meet the other day. We saw many things changed about the 06 prius. I also remember reading that they did upgrade the suspension a bit to make it ride better.. not sure where that link when though.. it was a while back.. *shrug*... but yeah... kinda wish a had an 06.. my 04 doesn't have a tire pressure monitor or play MP3...

 

From what Toyota and even Honda does with other models, the 2006 is the mid-cycle refresh. Change of taillight, headlights, sometimes they may change the body styling a bit, look at the 06 Accord rear compared to the 03-05. Insides are almost the same, only very slight updates. This keeps the car fresh and doesn't cost much to do. A full cycle refresh where they change everything costs a lot more.

So cars stay in the rotation for 5 years, anything less and it costs too much money to keep changing the design so radically.

So the new Prius redesign will come for sure at the end of 08 as a 2009 model. This is assuming they follow what they have been doing with the other Toyota cars.

Alex

 

Supplying GPS and terrain elevation data to the HSD computer to pre-stage the traction battery state of charge for upcoming changes in elevation.

For example: Approaching a large uphill climb in a few miles, followed by a period of downhill regen? The computer would charge up the traction battery prior to the climb up the hill and discharge it (within battery care standards) fully upon reaching the top of the hill. The drained battery now has extra storage room to take full advantage of the downhill regen.

As discussed in another thread, this system is supposedly patented by Toyota.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=13640&hl=pre-stage

The next generation Prius battery (Lithium Ion?) would take even more advantage of this upgrade.

 

I'd be surprised if the overall body shape changed an awful lot. They want to keep it aerodynamic for good highway mileage, and that's why we've got the odd shape now.

I think improved battery capacity and throughput efficiency, perhaps by means of capacitors as a buffer between the battery and the MGs might be a good possibility.