Hello all! I was doing some research on what's coming for the Prius in 2025, and besides the release of the Nightshade Edition, I found it interesting that the PHEV will no longer be known as the Prime. Apparently Toyota wants to make the drive train differences more obvious to the average car buyer, so the Prius and RAV4 are both going back to the original Plug-In Hybrid badging. I figure it's not really that important of a change but I wanted to hear everyone's thoughts.
It makes answering the question: "Which model is the plug in?" much easier to answer. 'Partial Hybrid Electric Vehicle' is still too much of a mouthful to be uttered regularly, though 'pee aitch ee vee' is an improvement. Saying phev as a word sounds better to me than pronouncing each letter. Like Phoebe with a V; sounds like Fifi...the Toyota Feevee!
Yep, it is only a name change: “Prime” wil become “plug-in hybrid” or “PHEV” for short. Toyota is actually renaming all their EVs explicitly as HEV, PHEV, BEV, and FCEV. They used to call all of them EV before. This is most welcome, as consumers will be better advised on the nature of the EVs. Note that Toyota just introduced the PHEV G trim in Japan as well. Previously, they only had the fully loaded PHEV Z trim. The new trim sacrifices the front corner radars (still available in the PHEV SE in the US). Toyota introduces the cheaper, stripped-down Prius PHEV G in Japan | PriusChat
Quite the opposite. They have served well. It's just that some don't like their purpose, much like those who don't like their approach.
The bZxx system would have worked if they had stuck with it. I actually liked it once I understood it. I like the traditional BMW and MB naming systems for the same reason - the name tells you what the vehicle is. I'll agree that the bZ part of the name is pretty dumb(beyond Zero), but I liked the second half. The number referred to the size of the vehicle, and the letter referred to the category. 4X stands for midsize crossover(I think). So a 2X, 3X, 4X, 7X, etc. would refer to different sizes of crossovers. While 4C, 4S, 4X, 4V might refer to vehicles of the same basic size but different functions(respectively coupe, sedan, crossover, SUV in my hypothetical example). I think the system could've had a chance if they hadn't done that weird lower case/upper case thing, or if they hadn't abruptly cancelled just about all the North American bZ lineup after only producing the one model.
It effectively served a purpose. You could immediately tell a reviewer was at a loss for actual review substance when they spent a long time talking about the name. Many are clueless about how to review a vehicle ultimately targeting the masses. We saw the same thing with Prius in the beginning, many would obsess with the shifter. Why focus so much on something that had nothing to do goals of reducing emissions & consumption... the point of Prius. At least with "bZ" you had a reminder of purpose in the name. After the hype dies down, owners get their voice. That's what really matters. With regard to cancelling, that hasn't happened. Production is just delayed. With the struggle status of our market here now and it about to become chaotic as the new administration takes over, waiting is a prudent choice. It will work out well to better align with the next-gen RAV4 anyway. Seeing that follow Camry by going 100% hybrid sends a clear big-picture message about moving the fleet forward. It's much easier to sell plug-in vehicles when consumers see tradition ICE already phased out. It shows commitment to the future. In other words, Toyota plays the long game. Many have difficulty seeing that, since much of our society is built around what happens in the short-term. They are playing checkers. Toyota is playing chess.
I agree, model codes over names would make differentiating models from each other much easier when such a system is understood. In your example the Prius could be HEV4S (using the powertrain as the model designation), and the Prime could be PHEV4S. The current Camry would be, say, HEV5S. As a railroad buff, I'm accustomed to learning those kind of naming systems. For example, I can easily tell the internal differences between an ES40DC and an ES44AC, two common modern diesel locomotives, by their names. Take your best guess at the meaning behind the names before opening the spoilers. Spoiler: ES40DC Evolution Series, 4,000 horsepower, DC powertrain Spoiler: ES44AC Evolution Series, 4,400 horsepower, AC powertrain Now, I am sure most people on the forum don't know this system, so they won't know what either locomotive is internally. And as they look identical from the exterior, knowing the code is important (obviously less of a problem with cars but you get the idea). A similar concept for cars could work well.
btw, that badging was only here in this market... a reflection to the many in this forum who contributed to the success of Prius. Everywhere else, the PHV or PHEV labels were used. The name suggestion of using "Prime" dates back to when we were trying to come up with a simple means of identifying generations as rollout of gen-3 approached. This was that very post where the idea originated...
Prime was only a North America thing. They were already using PHV in the rest of the world. Toyota saw Ford was successful with Energi for the PHEVs, and followed suite. If the public here didn't have issues with understanding plug in hybrid, Energi and Prime may not have been needed. The cars were just a number; China got a bZ3. I don't care for codes for names, but the way Toyota did it here might have been clunkier than others. I think dropping bZ model name as more to do with them expanding 'beyond zero' badging to include hybrids though. The new Camry has it.
