4th generation coming 2015!

Beijing Autoshow; Toyota Global Site | 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition | TOYOTA NS4

2015年 トヨタ【新型プリウス：PRIUS】発売時期 価格 燃費 スペック 動画 レビュー - NAVER まとめ

 

30％軽くなるモーター、待望の4WD車も登場

長年にわたって使われてきた先代のハイブリッド機構「THS-II」は、他社が効率の良いハイブリッド機構を開発したこともあって代替えが望まれていた。「最先端のハイブリッド技術は、つねにプリウスから」というモットーに則り、新型ではTHS-IIIが採用される。

最大の変更点は、初代THSから使われてきた複雑で重いプラネタリーギア（遊星ギア）が廃止され、一般的な平行ギアが用いられること。軽量化はモーターやインバーターにも及び、モーターは30％、インバーターは10％以上軽くなる見通しだ。

4WD車が新たに用意されることもポイント。低速時のみモーターが稼働するe-4WD（前輪はエンジンで、後輪はモーターで駆動する方式）が起用される。この後輪モーターは回生機能を持たないようだ。

エクステリアの情報もお届けしよう。まずはフロントマスク。ボンネット開口線に沿って配されたヘッドランプとグリルは滑らかな円弧を描き、ヘッドランプの下に装着されたガーニッシュと相まって、堂々としたワイド感が演出される。

サイドビューは、複雑に交錯するキャラクターラインによりスポーティな印象となる。2014年のジュネーブモーターショーで披露された新型アイゴ（欧州専用小型ハッチバック）からも読み取れるように、今後のトヨタデザインは個性を際立たせていくのかもしれない。

※2014年4月22日現在における新型車の発表についての予測記事です。発表を保証するものではありません

 

No 'wow' factor...and again. It says this is not a guaranteed outlook only theory. The 4WD is very interesting blah blah blah I feel like discussed to death. I just hope there aren't like 8 models where 4 are regular FWD and 4 other 4WD lol. It would make sense to have 4WD at low speed and work the way the current EV button does (does not activate at high speed, why would you need it at high speed anyway?) - So you can choose 4WD and lower mpg or not.

Still begs the question, why is this article coming out? And why is the Toyota Motor Sales Team getting restructured in California? We haven't had a good commercial since 2012 early 2013 about the Prius family, is that why (and the Highlander one is uhhh...at best).

I do like those NS4 ones though..

 

• Front bumper air inlet - about the right size and easier to block
• The lower bumper lip starts to look like an air-dam technique for lower aero drag
• Rear taper - looks to go lower but I can not tell if it still has the 'tailgater headlight block'.
• Is this the compact sized, Prius c version?

Bob Wilson

 

4WD would be a great option, I hope it is true.

 

I do not want to give the artist sketch too much credibility ..... but the shape of the rear seems to suggest that there may not be the horizontal bar that so many complain about.

PS - After rereading several post back, I see that Bob pointed that out. Sorry for the duplication.

 

I have to agree with Felt - there is little value in analyzing any sort of artist sketch from sources unrelated to Toyota.

Actually, I have to say it amazes me as to how Toyota manages to keep details of the Prius Gen 4 in total secrecy.

If anyone is aware of the Lexus NX debut a few weeks ago, the days and weeks leading upto the reveal saw various bits of the production car getting leaked out all over the place.

In a way, those of us who are so keen to find out about Gen4 are no better off than the ordinary folk out there. I can only imagine this is another well-thought out strategy of Toyota.

 

Me too.
Prius is a whole strategy of now Toyotas to come, a lead in the auto industry that is hard to build. In their own defense, I understand the secrecy.

 

The 'straight gears' has piqued my interest:

• use motor(s), actuators, and sensors to 'hot shift' between gears when rolling
• eliminates the electrical power path, saving 2-4% of the transmission loss
• transmission motors sized for 'hot shift' means significant reduction in mass and electrical load
• electric wheel drive motors handle the shift-point transition
• using rear wheel motor(s), we have a tow capacity and better weight distribution
• using angle and phase valve technology, the engine easily handles the broader power range

I'm liking this approach, a lot.

Bob Wilson

 

Bob, Has any mention been made regarding "straight gears?

Just curious, it does sound interesting.

 

From Google translate:

The "parallel gear" could be a Toyota interpretation of the VW two-clutch transmission and not a linear gear. If so, even better!

A parallel gear would allow parallel paths for:

• 1, 3, 5 - one set
• 2, 4, 6 - second set

The other set is changed 'on the fly' and engine shaft power passes between the parallel paths. In this case, some sort of power switching clutch is needed but it would be neat.

Bob Wilson

 

Not a badly done rendition in the post seen several higher up, but no way of knowing how accurate that is. Looking at the front end, I don't know what I dislike more -- the grey 2-inch wide vertical treatment on either front corner or the huge gaping black grille maw-of-death from that earlier representation. Either way, the front end of any new Prius shouldn't follow current design influences of large SUV's or show extra "flair" via large pin stripes (looks like an amateur college design project).

 

THS-III

That will be very interesting. If they are right, PSD will be gone so, no more power-split to create series and parallel paths.

It sounds like it will be a parallel hybrid? Need more details....

 

Wow, sounds like there might be BIG changes to the hybrid drive train. I would think Toyota doesn't want to give anything away to Honda who is probably looking at how to implement the Sport Hybrid system in a next gen Insight.

 

Toyota's New, More Efficient Engines

 

We can see a convectional engine approaching, a hybrid system will have even tougher task.

We have seen engine improvement from 1.5 to 1.8 engine, the sweet spot of good efficiency has been expanded, with new engine I expect this will expand even further. With optimized engine with high efficiency on larger range, you don't need an expensive powerful hybrid system. Through generations we have seen much less power relying on a hybrid system. Gen 1 had a turtle light in gen 3 you must abuse the car to deplete the battery.

Will we see a downsized hybrid system? Will the new 1.8 see a boost to 100 kW going from Atkinson to high compression ratio, when it's demanded by the right foot? I think this is possible as the main goal for Toyota is to make hybrid affordable and sell more units. I think the PSD will stay, but it could be improved with a clutch (or two having one (or two) fixed gear. You could get away with the same (or lower) power rated MG1 and MG2.

 

If a fix ratio is to be implemented, there will be no more smooth acceleration (as provided by the e-CVT)...

Pros and Cons...

 

Current MG1 and MG2 were designed for Plug-in setup, we might expect increasing of the motor power ratings...

 

The current Prius could easily do 60 kW on MG2, but the bottleneck is battery not the MG2. Then again I would like to see full 100 kW power in EV . For Volt like experience Toyota would have to design a different drivetrain for PiP, I doubt they will do that.

The clutch idea works nicely on Accord, but it adds cost and complecity.