4th generation coming 2015!

OK. I know what a diode is. What's an IGBT and what's a MOSFET?

 

Uh, GOOGLE is your friend...and keyboard dictionary!

• insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)
• metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET, MOS-FET, or MOS FET)

 

Why aren't SIC MOSFETs ready for prime time? You can get home solar inverters with SIC MOSFETs and I think trains are coming out with them. What are the issue at the moment?

 

Well, maybe you can get little ones. I was talking about the big ones - 10,000V 50A or so. They are available as samples and they are in testing but I wouldn't call them ready for prime time yet. However, maybe that's irrelevant. The 1200V 60A ones you can get should be more than sufficient for a Prius power converter. Even though they are being marketed, I wonder if they are available in million-unit per year quantities at economical prices, though.

 

Cost

 

I suppose it is going to take a test mule sighting, or a new article to generate additional interest in this thread.

I did read an article about the new Toyota Yaris ..... so Toyota does release information before they are seen in the auto shows.

With the lower cost for gasoline, I wonder (just wondering) if some of the "rush to market "has been eased? I was also reading the market for electric cars is pretty soft right now.

 

Personally, the cost of gas makes no difference to my degree of interest, regarding next generation prius. Re electric vehicles, I'd say limited range is causing soft market.

 

We get leaks here and there. We will know this year for sure (I know I said that last year... ) bUT a lot of sources say we will see it and know it. And another source hints it is greater than a 10% mpg improvement. 60 mpg...which means us hyper milers could get 65 mpg and the pip version could average 68 or 70 without plugging in? Wouldn't that be something!!

 

Toyota RND to be unveiled on January 26:

Toyota teases mysterious RND Concept

Press relese:
THE NEW TOYOTA RND CONCEPT: SNEAK PREVIEW

First details of new model released ahead of world debut next week

Toyota is breaking with motor industry convention by revealing a new product outside the familiar surroundings of an international motor show. Instead its new RND Concept will make its world debut in the UK on 26th January, ready for fast-track development that should see it changing the face of motoring within weeks.

The first image released today hints at how the concept's design marks a radical shift in direction for Toyota, taking the "fun-to-drive" qualities of its cars to a higher level. Although presented as a concept, Toyota acknowledges the RND will be unveiled in its production-ready form.

Manufacturing and product supply have been secured and on-the-road pricing has been fixed at a level that will make the RND Concept accessible to the widest possible market.

Toyota is confident, too, that the RND Concept's impact will go far beyond its own model range, having the potential to transform the look of every vehicle on the road.

President of Toyota GB, Matt Harrison, said: "Full details of the RND Concept will be announced next week, but ahead of the official unveiling I can say that this is something we are proud of and that will make a valuable contribution to the world we live in."

 

Wow are they hyping this RND. Is it going to be an alternative fuel vehicle or will Toyota keep going with the same old Prius for another year?

 

... by revealing a new product outside the familiar surroundings of an international motor show ...
... RND Concept will make its world debut in the UK on 26th January ...

The speculation is that it's something smaller and affordable for the city, but I'm really interested in the drivetrain, it could be hybrid, since EV is hard to be affordable.

 

Hi guys,

don't be fooled! This won't be a new car.
What you see ist NOT a tial and a taillight. This is a hood and part of a grille with the Toyota badge covered with a "red nose".

Now use a search engine and inform yourself about the "Red Nose Day" ("RND") in the UK
You will find out, Toyota is one of the official sponsors.

This new "product" will definitely change the "face of motoring" -> by applying a specially designed red nose to your car (not only Toyotas).

Have a nice day!

 

Toyota RND to unveiled as the first car officially showing TNGA? So many acronyms. Or is it codeword for new prius? They say it's ready, what other car would go from concept to production that fast? Though...I suspect unlikely the prius.

However, I do think it's going to showcase TNGA.

 

read my post above ;-)
The new (european) Auris is NOT based on TNGA -> Toyota RND Concept Is a Joke, an Auris With a Red Nose

 

Spoken to the Chiffon margarine jingle: "It's not NICE to fool with Mother Britian."

 

All I could find for today is this:

Toyota Unveils New Alphard and Vellfire Minivans in Japan

It was all a hoax.

Toyota Selling Clown Noses for Cars to Support Red Nose Day - autoevolution

 

What? 45.6 mpg for a minivan? Serious? I want one. Better MPG than 90% the best non-toyota hybrids out there and it's a freakin van?

 

Toyota will introduce the 4th Gen Prius when-never they are ready

 

Freudian slip? Which: when-ever or when-never?

 

A few points taken from the link Blu-ray posted.

>> comfortable ride and “exceptional handling stability,” thanks to a newly developed double-wishbone suspension at the rear.

>> A hybrid powertrain combining a 152PS (150hp) 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with a six-speed Sequential Shiftmatic and an E-Four electric
>> four-wheel drive system consisting of a 143PS (141hp) front electric motor with a 68PS (67hp) rear electric motor.

Anyone else willing to bet that these could actually be Prius G4 features? Maybe not a 2.5l ICE but the rest seem plausible.

And does that mean a sequential shiftmatic is better than the CVT on gen 3?