2020 Prime Tidbits (North America)

I would expect the same bolt patterns with them using the same platform. Even the attachment points for the middle seatbelt should be there.
The charger may need to be moved as it sits under the seat now.

 

I think if this were the case, the Prime would already have the same rear seat as other models. It costs more to make a new seat for two than use an existing seat for three.

 

I maybe wrong, but I read somewhere that original PRIME was forced to have only 4 seats to shed the gross weight for some technical or regulatory reason. Max occupant for 4 to be used for the GVW was the consideration. Although, now they are making a new PRIME with the 5th seat, I don't know how they have circumvented that issue.

edit: I found the original thread.
Here's why the Prime has 4 seats | PriusChat

 

It isn't just the cost of a new seat design in this tradeoff. Don't forget the other costs of making the car meet the regulatory or legal requirements for the vehicle's full load, which would be significantly heavier than a regular Prius.

 

A claim at the time of release was that the weight of the fifth person plus the weight of the battery, would require structural reinforcement.
More likely, Toyota took out the fifth seat to keep vehicle weight down for regulatory testing.

 

I emailed one of the press contacts for North America. He said Toyota will announce details and pricing “later this week” and added me to the mailing list.

I’ll keep you guys posted

Edit: later this week means Thursday

 

Nice! How do I get on the list? Lol.

 

@Tideland Prius, since there is conflicting info about whether CarPlay will be available on the 2020 Prime, any word from your source on whether Entune 3 will be available (or in Canada, any Entune version available at all?)? Since Toyota announced CarPlay would be retroactively available on 2018 Camry and Sienna, it might leave hope it might be available later through update if not initially at release...

Perhaps we will find out for sure tomorrow with this expected press release, per @kevin.c above.

 

It's Thursday. Any updates?

 

They posted this press release
http://toyotanews.pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2020+toyota+prius+prime+solution+rising+gas+prices.htm

Haven’t gotten any emails yet. I even checked in spam...

 

http://toyotanews.pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2020+toyota+prius+prime+solution+rising+gas+prices.htm

“New upgrades for 2020 include:

• New 5th seat for even more room
• Standard Apple CarPlay®, SiriusXM® and Amazon Alexa
• Two additional USB ports for the rear passengers
• Black interior accents to replace previous white accents for a more premium feel
• A new sun visor extender
• A relocation of seat heater buttons for front seat passengers for easier usability
• New grade strategy that offers LE, XLE and Limited Grades”

 

Looks like what the Gen4 Prius got for the 2019 update, plus the 5th seat.

 

And you expected something different?

 

No, it's just a year later on the Prime.

 

Nice, so the US will get the 5th seat.

So tempting...

 

• Standard Apple CarPlay®

At long last!

 

Nice! Mystery solved.... now the question is whether CarPlay will trickle through to Canada too, since we never did get Entune on the Prius...........

So far, no Press Release on Toyota Canada site.

Edit: Though it seems the odds are good, since Tideland’s source seems bang on.

 

Wow...that list is virtually indistinguishable from nothing.

 

Any update on when it becomes available for preorder and delivery dates?