Featured Gen 5 Prius now further delayed to the model year 2024

Nationwide, but the info has been somewhat ambiguous... like what does "reservation" actually equate to? We know region distribution varies anyway.

 

'you can take the reservation, but you can't keep the reservation'
watch

 

Could be just for them. But then again, the reservation is likely nothing but a list to get to place your order. You know, the handoff from national to regional.

Regardless, this particular delivery wait will seem like forever.

 

At age 71, I suspect my driving might be restricted in the future. Autopilot and FSD are my last hope to remain mobile and independent. But like the ‘draft’, I may be a year or so late.

Bob Wilson

 

That's a very good point Bob. I have often thought about the fact that autopilot, etc... could make senior citizens more mobile. And that could be a very good thing with the existing labor shortages that will only get worse as time goes on.

 

maybe it will be perfected by the time the 5th gen comes out

 

I sure hope the Gen5 Prius isn't delayed that long.

 

me too, but it could be a race to the bottom

 

There is hope Bob. Still driving anywhere at 78+. It isn't age but the things often associated with it.

 

Corolla Cross Hybrid might be the closest we will get to a Tercel wagon.

 

Solid State Batteries by that time may be a huge improvement.

 

• Fusion energy
• Hydrogen fuel cell cars

Bob Wilson

 

Perhaps given Toyota keeps teasing solid state specifically for hybrids maybe there will be a Gen 5 hybrid

They claim to have a solid state bev at the Tokyo Olympics

Also dropping is more “nuclear diamond” battery hype

 

I would expect some hydrogen powered vehicles too.

Brilliant and improved over time, the hybrid-synergy drive remains an innovation but a technology ridden too long:

• Gen 0 - production prototype, only seen in Japan and some Asian gray markets.
• Gen 1 - brilliant battery but weak cells. A great little sedan that went +260 k miles at 52 MPG.
• Gen 2 - significantly improved battery and body aerodynamics, I skipped this generation.
• Gen 3 - improved ICE with cooled exhaust and better batteries.
• Prius Prime - moved exhaust tap AFTER catalytic converter and one-way clutch for limited BEV. Traded in for pure BEV.

Personally, I would prefer to see the hybrid synergy drive become the universal transmission to retire the remaining, Toyota ICE vehicles. Their significant improvement in efficiency and reduced parts count makes a lot of sense.

I look forward to Toyota joining the BEV market with significant production across multiple body styles. Just as I type this line, they appear to lag behind looking for a 'magic bullet' technology instead of seeing the system is the solution.

Bob Wilson

 

[QUOTE="bwilson4web, post: 3249030, member: 10647"
Personally, I would prefer to see the hybrid synergy drive become the universal transmission to retire the remaining, Toyota ICE vehicles. Their significant improvement in efficiency and reduced parts count makes a lot of sense.

Bob Wilson[/QUOTE]
Cost is probably the issue. They have more parts, but the production capacity for traditional transmissions is already in place, and in the millions. Toyota opened up HSD patents a few years ago, hoping it would lead to an increase in production numbers from others to drive down costs.

And since HSD came to market, engines and mild hybrids have improved over that time. Yeah, they don't match power-split hybrids in results, but they do see improvements for lower costs. Full parallel hybrids can match power-splits, and might do it for a lower price.

Toyota also likes to squeeze all the profit they can out of something. Look at the US Corolla. It took years for technology in the model for other markets to reach here. Extended life of older tech, and the factory lines making it, was a draw for trying out the Scion experiment. There is nothing wrong with this. Most US customers were happy with the products. Holding on to older resources while they still have value can be a drag on moving to newer ones though, as even Toyota has limits on resources.

 

Is it confirmed? I should not hold my breath for a redesign to come out this year as a 2023 model year vehicle?

 

I believe that the rumors from Japan are for release there in December of this year. Release in the U.S. would likely be in early 2023 as a 24 model. This is absolutely not confirmed, just rumor that hasn't changed in several months.

I do hope that some real info comes out before December, sometime in the fall.

 

Look at it this way. Toyota is already Supply constrained, not only from the virus, but - because they were one of the very last to start up their electric car production, they are last in line to get on board with massive quantities of batteries / supplier for their electric cars - which will mostly be going to China at first. Wouldn't that mean less batteries for the plug-in or standard hybrid? So there are 2 competing interests with getting a new hybrid model to market
.

 

Hybrid models will still continue to use mostly NimH batteries, so no competing interests regarding battery supplies...