4th generation coming 2015!

Toyota needs to release some kind of new hint or tease about the Gen 4 soon. I'll admit my attention has been drawn towards the Gen 2 Chevy Volt because GM is actually putting out teasers for it right before its official debut in a few weeks.

Toyota does have to hit it out of the ballpark with the Gen 4 in light of all the new and increased competition it's now going to be facing against. The earlier models didn't have much going against it in terms of competitors. I think the Honda Insight was the only real competitor and we all see how well that went. This one will now have to deal with the Volt, Leaf, I3, C-Max, and their gen 2 successors. And soon the Tesla Model 3 will enter this arena as well.

Yes, I know several of these aren't direct competitors per se and it is an unfair comparison. But I suspect the average joe will compare these vehicles together since they're not traditional gas guzzlers. They may research all of these different cars to see which one will give them the best bang for their buck, especially when gas prices inevitably shoot back up.

If the Gen 4 is just "Gen 3 with slightly higher mpg" and nothing else (no new info, so all we have to go on right now is speculation), such as AWD, bigger battery for longer EV driving time, better performance (relative to the Gen 3), better interior/soundproofing, I suspect many people will start to jump ship to other brands that offer those things, even if their mpg isn't nearly as good. I may end up doing it too, because as much as I like my Prius, I want my next vehicle to have plug-in capability. And if Toyota is stubborn about releasing the next gen Plug-in Prius nationwide...

 

Well spoken.

 

All (above) is very true, BUT *if* TOYOTA is pushing the Mirai HCV as their "flagship" technology, then the Prii (all models) are, by default, going to be taking the proverbial "...back seat..."

 

Anyone know what that profit pie chart looks like?

 

So, 2 cars; a hybrid and a Plug-in!
- The regular liftback is not going to have a plug!

- PIP(NS4) is going to be a Plug-in only!
Toyota says C-HR Concept is more of a Prius preview than we thought

 

Sorry, but anything related to THAT thing (C-HR) is fugly!

 

I can actually see several common design features between C-HR and NS4 from large prominent wheel arches to narrow long side windows. Just imagine a G4 PIP slightly upmarket in every way to G3 from better efficiency, improved performance to a more refined ride and looking like NS4. Even I would pay extra for one of them and I don't even need a Plug-in

Okay let's get serious - I understand everyone's frustration but I still believe Toyota will get it right again with G4. My G3 will probably be 6+ years when G4 becomes available but I just cannot think of a better all rounder to replace it with other than a G4. After all these years, I'm still intrigued with the number of new cars announced and being compared to the G3 - this car has seriously stood the test of time. Actually Felt makes a great point that we should admire our G2s and G3s for what they are and at least in my case it has given me 5+ years of trouble free motoring and it's been my everyday family car and not just a weekend fun ride.

I don't think Toyota has given up on the Prius it's actually the other way round - they want to make sure they advance it one generation ahead in every aspect. In many ways the Prius is their flagship car and there is a lot riding on its success. Also think of it this way, imagine you were the head of design at Toyota, would you really reveal to the general public including all your competitors, why exactly your pride and joy flagship design project is getting delayed. We know only one thing that's definite and that is that G4 will be delayed, beyond that, I personally take all other announcements and predictions with a pinch of salt until I see an official announcement from Toyota at the reveal of the actual car.

 

The World’s Top Selling Hybrid is Getting a Makeover - HybridCars.com

more details

 

I find this paragraph from the article cycledrum posted to be of interest:

So does that mean essentially that the liftback and the Plug-in Prius are going to "evolve" different looks while probably sharing a powertrain/hybrid system?

I would like to know more about what they plan to do with the gen 2 PiP, and if it's going to be more EV like from the ground up, with a purpose-built battery designed into the body to help it accommodate space savings while providing "Volt-like" range in EV mode.

Or is it going to be like the current gen, with a larger battery shoe-horned into the Gen 4 body.

 

All in all every speculation is interesting. It is gm though who has my current interest. 5 seat...they say longer range for sure and over 10% increase of efficiency! Now they mention controlled regen of the battery

I drove my pip the other day doing 50 Mpg on the highway in hybrid mode while having 1 mile left on the ev battery . It in ceased to 1.3 magically even though I was doing 50+ mpg. Now I'm imagining how the volt 2 might react

Competition never been stiffer! Great thing for us! For toyota tho...? Time will tell

 

How much AER/mpg do you want? Next Gen PHV --> AER vs. MPG? | Page 3 | PriusChat

 

I read the HybridCars.com article. I am in denial.

I cannot, and do not want, to believe that Toyota, owner of the world hybrid title, would make such a dramatic change. In addition, there are fundamental things that do not seem to make sense. For example it is hard to image that all the nooks, crannies, and recesses would be aerodynamic. Second, ground clearance .... it's as tall as a pick-up (slight exaggeration). But most of all, I find it hard to accept that such a major re-design could be accomplished in one year. I cannot image that all the fit and finish details could be worked out; suppliers engineer all the components; testing in hot and cold weather and etc.

I bought a first year G3 and it has worked out well. Excellent vehicle. But there is no way I would purchase a first year G4 IF, the re-design is so drastic, and if there was only one year to resolve the countless issues that would arise in a totally new design.

Stubbornly .... I do not believe what we are reading.

 

If speculation allowed, I think this current design/redesign "stuff" is nothing but a red herring for public press while the car is probably delayed to put finishing touches on some new high tech components, Battery/Ultra-capacitor? Wireless Charging? New Silicon Carbide Semi-Conductors Could Boost the Efficiency of Toyota’s Hybrids By Up to Ten Percent

Who knows! I would not except Toyota to state the real reason.
But I did like what I read in this blog: Think Smart » Blog Archive » The Next Toyota Prius Will Surprise You

 

Sergiospl - Outstanding response .... and Think Smart » Blog Archive » The Next Toyota Prius Will Surprise You is MUST READ for any Prius enthusiast.

 

Nice summary of just about everything that WE have been posting here!

 

With low world wide gas prices Toyota might not be in a big hurry for the next gen Prius, I just hope they can make a big leap in mpg when it arrives here.

 

Uh, it's DECEMBER, not APRIL (as in 'FOOLS)...ha,ha.

 

Okay, I fell for it, and was feeling sick to my stomach.

Inferno and Sergiospl ..... what do you mean you "like this?" I didn't like it one dang bit. LOL