4th generation coming 2015!

Toyota has now the opportunity of spreading the hybrid technology as promised: by 2020 all models would have hybrid powertrain offered. It means less focus on updating the Prius, which in fact still leads, despite the more mature market (forget the Honda Insight draw, but let's face it, a hybrid defeat!)...
It also means more profits on a short term, a good time for balancing recent quality issues, also.
Personally, I'm satisfied with my 2010, and will be even more if they make a good 4 gen Prius to suceed mine.
I hope they can innovate again, and push further the efficiency! Time? Ok, Toyota!

 

No confirmation yet as when the 4th gen will be released but here's a new article talking about the Prius losing to competitors and needing an upgrade: Is Toyota Prius Losing Popularity Among Green Enthusiasts?

It mentions a release date sometime in 2015, still calls it the 2015 Prius. The writer seems to think the new PCU will be added to the 4th gen? Whatever the case, a carry over '2015 Prius' will surely lose even more steam. The Fusion Hybrid and Energi looks good, Accord looks great, hybrid is becoming mainstream while plugins are the new thing (and Fuel Cell). Plugins have a stronger stand though especially with all the government incentives.

We shall see where this all takes us...patience...though nice to see another article speculating.

 

Simply put, there is not one hybrid on the market today I'd put my money out to buy. Not Prius, Camry, Accord, Sonata, CT hybrid, etc, etc..... The closest is the Accord Hybrid, but the timing and cost is way off.

 

Another more recent article: speaking of the Prius **model 2015** year. No news on a carry over, lots of people saying 2015 prius (model year 2015 no less). Maybe we will see it sooner than later? Some say we will hear/see it when the current incentives run out in June which makes sense...


How Does Toyota Motor Corp. Plan to Build Cars for Future Generations? (TM)

 

Yes, we all know. Your super high end taste and need for high performance is just too good for us lowly peasants.

 

I wouldn't call a well-laid out seat and steering wheel high performance, but Toyota seems incapable or unconcerned to do so. Camry Hybrid would be the obvious choice given the Prius steering wheel is too far away and therefore the car feels a bit cramped. But, no way in heck will I buy a car with a steering wheel offset a couple inches right. (all current gen Camrys)

I wonder if the 2015 Camry will be different.

Over 24% say they can't telescope Prius steering wheel close enough. Almost as if Prius (its designers) discriminates against tall people -

Can You Position (Tilt, Telescope) Your Steering Wheel Where You Want It? | PriusChat

 

I would be inclined to think you've never owned or ridden a motorcycle and that you have never been into motorsports or watching motorsports. ??

 

Not sure whether anyone here is keeping tabs on the Lexus NX 300h - the latest news is that order books are open with the first deliveries expected in August 2014. I have been following progress of this vehicle through its journey into production but completely overlooked a little bit of detail which probably gives a slight hint regarding Prius Gen4 availability.

It seems the 300h will be equipped with a 2.5L Atkinson ICE - the identical one in IS300h. Now apply a bit of logic around this - what this means (at least to me) is that Prius Gen 4 engine (the next generation of HSD) is not ready yet and will not be for sometime. If there was the slightest possibility that it was ready or was going to be ready within the remainder of this year, it is very unlikely that Lexus will put old HSD tech into the NX300h. So unfortunately, I have little hope we will see G4 this year.

 

Old HSD tech?! A direct injection Atkinson engine is not...

 

Direct Injection relates to nx 300t turbo model not the nx 300h hybrid.

 

Toyota AR engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IS300h ICE features D4S head, as NX300h will.

 

Ok I stand corrected. But I guess we should consider this a level below the next generation HSD which Prius Gen 4 should feature?

 

Lets not get ahead of ourselves on the 4th Gen Prius. I agree the competition has ramped up, but I find it hilarious that all the mileage claims that the competition has put out there for the EPA have not been backed up in reality. The 3rd Gen HSD patents are soon to expire if not expired already, yet the competition has found it nearly insurmountable to get over the 3rd Gen HSD combined mileage claim of 50 MPG. According to Fuelly, the competition has racked up a lot of false mileage claims as well as a lot of lawsuits (Ford, Honda, and Hyundai/Kia). You even have R&T proclaiming a MB E200D gets better mileage than a Prius? Really? A stinky diesel whose smog score is nearly 400 % that of a AT-PZEV Prius and get 33 MPG combined? Get real!

Evolution is what the 4th Gen HSD is about and if it is true 55 MPG combined, this will be the new benchmark and the competition will be left to buy up the 3rd Gen patents and reverse engineer a 4th Gen out of it.

 

Don't forget Fuelly though also shows that the Gen III is getting under 50 MPG (I think 47 or 46 last I check) - granted I think people are not as picky because they know 48 is average high way and I think the community is pretty educated that given the conditions and technique, you can go well above 52 mpg as well...

 

Inferno,
I personally did that today cruising 26.5 miles and got an average of 62 MPG @ 40 MPH average around the beach and into the hills close by. I've got as high as 80 MPG on shorter trips of 15 miles or less. The 3rd Gen Prius is already unbelievable to me so the 4th gen I'm sure I could get even higher numbers.

 

Yea, but what's your average mpg over greater distances? I accidentally reset my long-term trip gauge so that's it not fully comprehensive, but the 2012 "C" at over 12,000 miles is "only" sitting at 53 mpg. I don't think any other hybrid would have fared better mind you.

 

I'm at 58k miles at 47.2 mpg, and not a light foot hyper miler either. Wife and I split the car. Days I take it I get 55mpg or so for 500 miles.

I hope **this** is not the case that Toytoa isn't bringing it together as they hoped. That would stink, but the spy shots have been out for over a year now. No other spy shots, nothing...

They are (I heard) doing a ton of testing of all this new technology in Japan, nothing for sure Gen IV though.

 

This afternoon I returned from a 4,425 mile trip that included mountain and flat driving, highway and stop and go city traffic. One day was torrential rain, and we had strong head and tail winds., I drove 74 mph on the Interstate, and 69 on the secondary roads. My average for the entire trip was 49.25 mpg (calculated).

The vehicle is a 2010 IV, 94,500 miles on the odometer. Michelin rolling resistant tires. Two passengers, plus 2 weeks worth of luggage.