I think I just saw the Gen 4 Prius (in stealth)

that's the point, no doubt.

 

I agree they are fake. BTW every time I see your avatar it reminds me how good NS4 looked, why can't they produce that for us.

 

I think You and I are probably the biggest fan of the NS4.

I hope the plug-in version or Prime will have certain characteristics and features of the NS4.

Hope to resurrect this thread if; 2015 Toyota NS4 Advanced Plug-In Updates, Photos & Videos! | PriusChat

 

I agree that the NS4 is one sweet looking car, but then I am over 40 by a decade and a half. My view is that a front end design that appeals to younger drivers is ugly to older drivers. The reverse is also true. If Toyota offered two front ends depending on option level, they would catch both markets. I don't really think there are many middle-of-the-road types out there at the moment.

Bill the Engineer

 

scion like.

 

Comparing the renderings to the Autoblog photos, I think the renderings are just guesses based on spy shots. You can see that there is an unusual light fixture at the top of the taillights in the spy shots that doesn't appear in the renderings. And the hood/windshield angle is wrong, too much like the current generation. I just hope whoever did the renderings never gets a job as an actual car designer.

 

Make the front end appeal to the younger drivers while making the rear end appeal to the older drivers. Problem solved

 

I am not looking at the "mule" pictures and the renderings as I write this, so this is from memory.

But I seem to recall that the side windows on the test mule are much larger than the renderings (the proportions are all different). The rendering makes, at least to me, the car appear more sleek and graceful. The size of the test mule side windows looks too large, and clumsy to me. That could change when the disguise is removed.

 

......Still waiting to be blown away!!

Lol.

 

Look at the renderings next to a picture of the current Prius, like this:





...and it's pretty clear the drawings are based on a picture of a 2010-2015. Compare the rearview mirrors (attach on the door panel in the renderings and current car, but above the panel on both the earlier, scrapped test car and the redesigned, "sportier" test car), hood/windshield transition, character line under the windows--to which a clunky, second character line has been added by whoever did the drawing. Further, the rear glass on the drawings does not match what is seen on the camouflaged test car, nor the point of max camber on the roof in the side view.

Prototype #1:



Prototype #2:

 

So they took away storage space in the hatch by chopping it diagonally? Weird.

But it looks like they kinda improved the rear pillar sight line by making it glass now instead of sheet metal...

 

I think we are all seeing the same thing, but in the green and blue sketches the rear roof line decreases so suddenly, I dare say the headroom would be severely diminished in the rear seat.

But, it is only a sketch.

 

I'm actually in the market October and after looking at 5 plug-in competitors I do say the "mule" looks a lot like a 2016 Volt!

 

But, a 10.6 cu ft cargo volume (2016 Volt) isn't going to get anywhere near the new Prius which is already around 20 cu ft.

Chevrolet Introduces All-New 2016 Volt

 

5th seat or not I still much prefer the way the 2015 volt looks. Of course the extra EV range is great but the styling to me looks too Elantra / Honda Civic mainstream like and Stretched out. It had lost its "oh that's a volt" instant recognition that it had.

Anyways....

and yeah the Prius is so much more versatile with double the cargo capacity I agree.

Let's see what the gen 4 ends up looking like, hopefully they don't take away storage space /headroom like it looks like they might with the nasty mule pics (again Honda Civic / Elantra mainstream styling) taking away the "oh that's a Prius" instant recognition...

Guess I just like the gen 3 styling

 

A lot of people instantly recognize the Prius (liftback) ...... with an 'Ewwwwww' reaction. It definitely has 'bloated' down really well.

The sooner (Toyota) gets away from 'sticking out' with Prius, the sooner more people will be willing to try one out.

 

most of the people i talk to, who won't consider a prius, are just into all the other things a car can provide. and 50+ mpg means nothing to them.

 

bisco - I hate to disagree with "most of the people" you talk with, we have agreed on so many points, but I cannot recall a time when fuel efficiency wasn't important to me.

My first vehicle was a 1937 Ford. I hated putting gas in it and Dad was paying the charge account (before credit cards). Later, I owned a 1956 Ford with overdrive, because it got better gas milage. The first car I bought after getting married (Dad no longer paying) was a 1962 VW. Fuel efficiency was very important, and I was paying 19.9 cents per gallon.

But then, I just hate to waste money. Too many people still leave the engine idling while a mate runs into the grocery (even on a mild day).