4th generation coming 2015!

* changed post above
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I think the 'Gen 4' should absolutely be a hatchback (liftback). No need to mess with a formula that is working.

For many Prius c is a bit too small, v little too big, liftback is right.

If Toyota made a trunked sedan for Prius (somewhat smaller Cam Hy) people would groan the world over. It won't happen. I think hybridizing small trunked sedans is tough because their trunks are small to begin with and putting 12V and traction battery back there makes trunk too small.

No wonder hybrid hatchback is best seller. It works well, but Camry Hybrid is no slouch.

btw, if Toyota breaks the smooth line between hood and windshield as rumored, I'd think that would increase Cd, not good.

 

I think GenIV should be available as Prius liftback and current Prius v, both with plug-in options and a Prius Coupe. After Toyota sold almost 46,000 HyCam last year, the Corolla hybrid would take the role of a Prius Sedan for those who want a trunk, and Auris hybrid as Matrix. Then the Flagship Prius (The NS4)!

 

NS4 looks cool, but I'll bet rear headroom stinks in that thing and cargo room is probably ... bad. Hard to be uber cool and ultra practical at the same time. Roof peak appears pushed forward, more like Gen2 Prius, except the whole car is either lengthened or height is pretty short. Looks cool, but I'll bet it's not all that roomy inside. Neither is a Civic.

Front end looks pretty short. I think safety is pretty high on family's list, stubby front end not so appealing to many.

Prius coupe? No way, let Scion make some kind of hybrid coupe in a couple years or so. Coupe is merely a 4 seat car that's hard to get in/ out of rear. Limited market.

If things go the way they've been, this whole 'Gen 4' thing means the new liftback Prius. First a hybrid, then plug-in option later.

Prius c and v can mosey along at their 2,900 / month pace. v is offshoot of 3rd gen.

Hybridized Corolla? Like said before, Corolla already has a small trunk. Stuff a 12V and hybrid battery back there and it becomes miniscule.

If they make a $21k Corolla hybrid that gets 45 mpg combined, tough sell over a $17k Corolla that has 32 mpg combined.

 

Good points, but NS4 is a liftback, so the reduced space can be managed. As for the trunk space of the Corolla, They maybe looking at either the Prius c HV battery location,

or the Prius Plus HV Battery Location, but it's Lithium! The packaging inside the 7-seater hybrid Toyota PriusPlus - YouTube

 

Just wanted to compare

 

That is such a clean looking car

 

All car models seem to "grow" over the years. Standard evolution for most cars but possibly deadly for the Prius. Todays Corolla is huge compared to the 1977 I started with. However, in the Prius family, Toyota has to realize that they must continue a "no-compromises" approach to at least one max performing MPG car. Today that is the Prius, and any "styling" changes that reduce MPG by even a fraction seems to head down the wrong path. It's much too easy to let some other or new car model be the visually enticing hybrid than compromise in MPG one smidgin on a market Toyota has cornered.

 

Fastback - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Ok, so a MB CLS would be a fastback. Looks like fastback roofs have lower height in rear passenger area. They could retain headroom in Prius, but only by lowering rear seat bottoms which I wouldn't like. Prius has nice rear seat height as is.

I think Toyota ought to stick with the Kammback shape; don't mess too much with shape or size. Work the interior design over, make it much fressher and sexed up a bit.

I don't like the HSI gage in the center. I use that thing all the time. Should be in front of driver!

Other thing is Accord, Civic and Camry have been on a 5 year redesign cycle. Would be nice if Prius was on 5 years also, but looks like 6.

 

Seems that's why at this point it is what it is. A big secret yes, but the mold is already made.

About all we can hope for at this point is flexibility in options packages and battery technology.

Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2

 

I really hope this is NOT it. It looks like a old 1975 Chevy Grand Torino. Except the Torino actually looked better. Nothing Prius about this car.

 

Don't worry, it won't be much like the NS4 shown whose windows are short, headroom in rear seat must be awful and the cargo space would be 1/2 what the Prius currently has.

 

Can't say I see the resemblance.

Prius design will be driven by aerodynamic function which points to the NS4 vs. Gran Turino.

 

Awe, you took out the fun, we all know the imagination is better than the real thing!

Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2

 

Really, it's been many years but you know what, it does resemble it

 

Any way, as I said the grand Torino is a far better look.

 

Yes its been many years. No it doesn't resemble the NS4.

 

Well, perhaps we can at least agree that the old Grand Torino is a better looking style!

 

What do you mean "we" Kimosabe?

Gran Turino was a butt ugly dud from birth. Prius is an evolving sleek, high tech marvel.