Toyota Revises Prius

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tempus, Apr 28, 2005.

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  1. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    This is apparently for European Markets, but parts may apply elsewhere.

    Meanwhile, the hybrid petrol-electric Prius has been undergoing some development, most of it aimed at improving the driving quality and reducing interior noise levels. The wheels and bodyshell are now stiffer than before, spring and damper rates have been revised, and the power steering system has been revised. To keep the decibels down, Toyota has added extra sound insulation, and has added a noise-absorbing film between the two layers of the windscreen.

    http://www.itv-motoring.com/news/2005/apri...ril/28/6001.asp
     
    #1 Tempus, Apr 28, 2005
  2. Paul113

    Paul113 New Member

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    #2 Paul113, Apr 28, 2005
  3. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    leather seats would be cool. i think toyota/lexus developed a new leather last year that isn't really leather. it's fake.. but last longer than real leather and is basically exactly the same.
     
    #3 V8Cobrakid, Apr 28, 2005
  4. Prolene

    Prolene New Member

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    Is this why the '05 is listed as being heavier?
     
    #4 Prolene, Apr 28, 2005
  5. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    the 05 should be the exact same as the 04. everything i've heard indicates no changes. maybe they added insulation without telling anyone? well.. i dought it.

    the basic models do have rear windshield wipers and other accessories the basic 04 didn't have. compair simular packages. they should tip the scale at about even.
     
    #5 V8Cobrakid, Apr 28, 2005
  6. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    Another Report, basically the same info

    http://www.newcarnet.co.uk/newsarchiveitem...l?id=4570&pos=1

    Prius gets a slight tweak (28.04.2005)

    The Toyota Prius has recent undergone what the company describes as 'small but effective adjustments'.

    The modifications are intended to improve the car's all-round dynamic performance, with better roadholding and steering feel and lower levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

    Body rigidity has been increased and the springs and dampers have been tweaked, delivering greater straight-line stability and ride comfort. Fine-tuning of the electric power steering system and stiffer wheel construction yield improved steering feel for the driver.

    From 1 May, owners can also indulge in extra luxury with the addition of black leather as an upholstery option, in addition to the Alcantara suede-effect trim that's already available. The price for both is £1,350, including VAT and fitting.
     
    #6 Tempus, Apr 28, 2005
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Not in the Canadian models. Ours gained 15kg for some reason lol
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Apr 28, 2005
  8. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    So can we achieve some of the new suspension tweaking with aftermarket and steering ECU updates, or just have to swap to a new Prius?

    Vindication for people who've always said Prius steering was too twitchy and Toyota constantly denying it.
     
    #8 NuShrike, Apr 28, 2005
  9. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    Another Source

    http://www.carpages.co.uk/toyota/toyota-pr...n&echo=81303678

    Toyota Prius With Added Poise

    Handling enhancements and leather option for Prius

    You might have thought a rack of international awards, acres of positive press and soaring sales would have been rewards enough to convince Toyota that it had achieved an all-round success with Prius, a car that’s steadily reshaping the way people think about environmentally-aware motoring.

    Such an assumption ignores the principle of kaizen - continuous improvement - a philosophy that is at the heart of everything Toyota does. So despite the fact Prius has claimed both the 2005 European Car of the Year title and the International Engine of the Year award, and achieved excellent market performance in the UK and around the world, Toyota engineers have focused on how they can make it an even better car.

    The result is a number of small but effective adjustments that improve Prius’s all-round dynamic performance with better roadholding and steering feel and lower levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

    Body rigidity has been increased and the springs and dampers have been tweaked, delivering greater straight-line stability and ride comfort. Fine-tuning of the electric power steering system and stiffer wheel construction yield improved steering feel for the driver.

    Travelling in a Prius has never been a nerve-jangling experience, but now NVH levels are lower than ever before thanks to the adoption of an acoustic windscreen, which has a special noise-absorbing film between the layers of glass, and improved insulation materials in key areas around the dashboard.

    From 1 May, owners can also indulge in extra luxury with the addition of black leather as an upholstery option, in addition to the Alcantara suede-effect trim that’s already available. The price for both is £1,350, including VAT and fitting.
     
    #9 Tempus, Apr 28, 2005
  10. kidtwist

    kidtwist New Member

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    This is probably the 2006 model (for those in the US). I wonder if there's any retrofitting that can be done for those with 04-05s who want to improve handling.
     
    #10 kidtwist, Apr 28, 2005
  11. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    It looks from the picture in the carpages article that they've changed the nose design slightly - it has prominent vertical slats in the radiator grill, so you'll be able to easily see the difference.

    Not sure that it's an improvement.
     
    #11 KMO, Apr 28, 2005
  12. ohthetrees

    ohthetrees New Member

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    What month did models in dealerships change from 2004 to 2005 last year? In other words, when can we expect this "new" 2006 model to be on dealer lots?
     
    #12 ohthetrees, Apr 28, 2005
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    For North America it's September, for the rest of the world, it's January
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Apr 28, 2005
  14. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i always thought that tweaking the prius could make an excellent sports car. sure.. it would drop the gas mileage.. but the hybrid system in a light car would be perfect.

    i wish they would make a two seat roadster. or.. the spider converted to a hybrid. i think that's a couple years away though.
     
    #14 V8Cobrakid, Apr 28, 2005
  15. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"85381)</div>
    The article seems to be saying the changes apply from May. There's no way that they're announcing changes now that we won't get until January. You've got to realise that the rest of the world doesn't change their cars only once a year like you Yanks seem to.

    We don't have "model years".
     
    #15 KMO, Apr 29, 2005
  16. Dan Gross

    Dan Gross New Member

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    Could this be related to the recent ~$100 price increase?
     
    #16 Dan Gross, Apr 29, 2005
  17. ededed11221

    ededed11221 New Member

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    The Prius I received last week from a Boston-area deal seemed both tighter and quieter than the model I test drove a mere 11 months ago.
     
    #17 ededed11221, Apr 29, 2005
  18. inventor00

    inventor00 Active Member

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    Hubby claims the 05 we got at the end of March is much better in steering than the 04 we got in Feb 04(which was "tweaky" he said). Same packages.
     
    #18 inventor00, Apr 29, 2005
  19. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i wonder if the twitchy steering was a few adjustments or it's new parts... hmmm. if it's adjustments, then we can all get it done.

    i've read many articles ( like car and driver ) that state front wheel drive is a bad idea. Twitchy steering that follows the road is the main reason. guess the prius fell victom to this.

    it's not a problem with my 17" tires.. but with the stocks, it was noticable.. sometimes annoying. i learned very quickly to steer with 1 finger because the car would not shift that way.
     
    #19 V8Cobrakid, Apr 29, 2005
  20. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    When they say that the "Body rigidity has been increased" - I really doubt that's something that can be done retroactively.

    Spring/Shock rates, Steering adjustments and sound dampening probably could be put in, but would certainly be expensive.
     
    #20 Tempus, Apr 29, 2005
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