Toyota Prius Goes Mainstream: Toyota's hybrid icon to share Corolla components

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by hb06, Mar 20, 2007.

  1. hb06

    hb06 Member

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    "Toyota's Prius is notable not just for its hybrid drivetrain, but for its unique body structure as well, aimed at strength with light weight for optimum fuel efficiency and safety."

    "The 2009 Prius won't be a standalone car in the Toyota lineup, however. It'll share many structural and suspension elements with the Auris, the car that replaces the Corolla in Europe and has recently launched in Japan as an upscale compact."
    MotorTrend Link
    http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_ne...oes_mainstream/
     
    #1 hb06, Mar 20, 2007
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Not sure I'm thrilled about the larger ICE, I'd like to see the extra torque/HP from a more powerful battery/MG combo while maximizing the ICE FE....but I guess they're aiming for the Prius to be as quick and powerful as the majority of the cars on the road.

    Everyone say it with me...PHEV, PHEV, PHEV!!!
     
    #2 efusco, Mar 20, 2007
  3. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 20 2007, 11:14 AM) [snapback]409003[/snapback]</div>
    PHEV,PHEV,PHEV!!! and 100MPG,100MPG
     
    #3 cireecnop1, Mar 20, 2007
  4. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    Fix the thread title - it's the Auris, not the Corolla.

    But anyway. Bummer. The Auris is another 3.5cm wider than the current Prius. How are we supposed to fit these lard-assed cars into our garages? :angry:
     
    #4 KMO, Mar 20, 2007
  5. SomervillePrius

    SomervillePrius New Member

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    PHEV! PHEV!

    Not a surprising move. I'm sure toyota are now trying to maximize profit on the Prius. To bad! I hope they also are willing to launch a radical car again.
     
    #5 SomervillePrius, Mar 20, 2007
  6. hb06

    hb06 Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Mar 20 2007, 11:52 AM) [snapback]409126[/snapback]</div>
    The Toyota Hybrid X looks pretty radical if it gets off the floor.
    Video
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=LAfKkGt9P2w
     
    #6 hb06, Mar 20, 2007
  7. SomervillePrius

    SomervillePrius New Member

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    I wasn't thinking design as much as performance.... but I might have jumpt the gun... the Prius will still use lighter weight materials to keep the FE up...
     
    #7 SomervillePrius, Mar 20, 2007
  8. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    Already uses the Corolla's trailing-arm SIRS.

    But, new 3-link (multilink?) IRS? That would be grand! and reduce/eliminate the rear swaying/floating in the suspension, and maybe brings it up to par to an econobox Kia Spectra.
     
    #8 NuShrike, Mar 20, 2007
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    niiice.. I'm pumped just by the suspension annoucement lol. Sure the current rear suspension is compact but to be honest, it's a bit stiff for my tastes (I'm sure there are others here are ok with it). Surprisingly, the 98-03 Sienna with the same rear suspension seems quite soft and compliant.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Mar 20, 2007
  10. JSH

    JSH Senior Member

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    People need to remember that just because vehicle share a common platform doesn't mean that they will be the same. Examples:

    Volvo S40, Volvo V50, Mazda 3, Mazda 5, and European Ford Focus share the same platform.

    VW Golf, VW Jetta, Audi A4, Audi S4 share the same platform.

    Honda Pilot and Ridgeline share the same platform.

    Currently the Prius is a stand alone model that shares very little with other cars. This is an very expensive way to build a car. It is only natural that Toyota will want to commonize some components. It doesn't mean that the next Prius will be a Corolla.


    Hopefully the new Prius will get a better suspension. My 2005 Prius handles worse than my first car, a 1991 Chevy Cavalier station wagon.
     
    #10 JSH, Mar 22, 2007
  11. subarutoo

    subarutoo New Member

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    Mainstream? Here in LA Prius is pretty mainstream, when you look at the numbers in traffic. I was in a 4 Prius HOV draft last night, all different colors. I was the 4th in line, and number Prius #2 crossed the double yellow to pass and be number 1. Bad Prius! :( :( :(
     
    #11 subarutoo, Mar 22, 2007
  12. jiepsie

    jiepsie New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Mar 22 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]410276[/snapback]</div>
    The Audi A4 shares its platform with the VW passat, not the Golf. To make things more confusing, the previous version of this platform was called A4, but is has nothing to do with the Audi A4.

    The current Audi A3 does share the current Golf platform (A5), as does the VW Touran, the new Audi TT, Skoda Oktavia, Seat Leon, Seal Altea and Seat Toledo, to name a few. Most of these cars look and handle very different than their platform cousins.

    More info about the VW A platform.
     
    #12 jiepsie, Mar 22, 2007
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