4th generation coming 2015!

My Mamma taught me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything." ........................ silence.

 

Have to agree. Many pieces look out of proportion. Is really longer than Gen3? Is there gonna be enough headspace in back seat? Hood to windshield transition looks clugged. Young Frankenstein.

If I ever get one I'll name it Eye-gor

 

I think the overall proportions resemble the 2nd gen more than the 3rd gen, in that it appears relatively more cab-forward.

But what it really seems to be is that the tail is longer. Perhaps with the new IRS, they had to rearrange the fuel-tank/battery/spare-tire/muffler relationship. We already know that the muffler is transverse now.

Like the 2nd gen, I don't find it attractive.

 

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned before, but whats the probability (based on the renderings) that Toyota would build the standard hybrid with a different hood and front quarter panels than they would use on the PHEV? I could understand a different fascia, but using different panels and hood would be very costly and perhaps out of character for Toyota. That said, I think the rendering for the standard hybrid match the camouflaged cars quite a bit, and are likely very close to what the production vehicle will look like.

 

Not that you can put much stock in the word of dealerships, but the sales manager at mine seemed to think the plug-in would be released concomitantly with the hybrid.

 

right, you can't. it's right in the prius team thread, take a look.

 

Can you link me? Not sure in what subforum that resides. If that means we have to wait until the end of 2016, it just puts me that much closer to forgoing it altogether for a Model 3 (laugh at that,
Toyota ).

Somewhere in this 13-page thread, I take it? Prius Plug-in Hybrid Update | PriusChat

 

yes, and if you look at the thread, 'everything we know for sure about the gen IV' you will see one of the few things we absolutely know is no corresponding plug in the lift back release.

 

That's how I found the above thread. However, they don't say when it's actually coming, at least on the first page. I guess I'll be trudging through that thread.

 

it's fascinating.

 

OK, skimmed the thread for their relevant posts. Very cryptic and now mum's the word as to what these latest renderings of both vehicles entail. I'm still working with the assumption that the plug-in *could* be introduced at the same time. It's something to look forward to in any case.

 

The LA Times (pessimistically) weighs in on the next Prius:

Toyota's next Prius is unlikely to boost sagging hybrid market - LA Times

 

Yep. With Gen 1 and 2 the Prius had a healthy lead. Early adopters of this then leading edge technology and at times high gas prices brought market share.

Now with earlier adopters into PHEVs and BEVs and high gas prices nowhere in sight, the market is soft and may never look quite the same.

 

I worked up a transition with one of the later spy shots and that blue candidate drawing compared.



The photo and drawing don't match exactly, just as two photos of the same object wouldn't match if they were taken from different angles, heights, distances and at different focal lengths. What is clear to me is that the drawing wasn't done with a real prototype present. The side mirror is hideously large in the drawing and would never be that size or height in a real car. That triangular fog light is present in both, and the headlights seem to mostly line up, even with most of them covered. Same with the air vents on either side of the nose badge, and the lower venting in the front spoiler. The door handles do not line up with the horizontal sculpting lines. The front windshield angle also doesn't seem to match very well, but again, one image is at a different angle.

You can "draw" (pun) your own conclusions, but for me, the blue artist image isn't really that far off from the spy photo car. Or vice versa.

 

I think the yucky green image from Taiwan's fake factory is garbage that needs to fade away: The hood, windshield and side view mirror are pretty much like the 3rd gen while Toyota said 3 years ago the new Prius will have a lower hood and door lines. Also, the fake renditions have high door lines where the actual Prius in camo has lowered door lines.

 

That may be true, but as DtEW mentioned it reminds Gen2 cab-forward shape, and IMHO Gen3 proportions are much better balanced.

They lowered engine/hood, but transition from hood to windshield looks especially bad, much worse than on Prius C. This is probably b/c they couldn't make front shorter. And it looks like they may have added some camo to disguise transition. If anything it reminds me of Dodge Neon.

And they sculptured rear 3/4 panels and bulge rear window to make it look more like sedan which doesn't score them any points in beauty contest.

 

Come to think about it, the Prius team didn't really explain why they were "blown away". Some of us assumed they were talking about its looks.

The web is full of this covered car predicted to be Prius Gen 4, normal logic says it is unlikely that Toyota will let their flagship most anticipated car be driven on the streets this way. It might make sense to analyse dimensions, styling cues and suspension tech etc but at least I don't believe we are looking at the real Prius Gen4 covered or not.

 

i think they're blown away by the buzz generated, which is more than anticipated, and exactly what they hoped for.