If I was Lead Designer for the Prius, I would.....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ May 25 2006, 11:26 AM) [snapback]260892[/snapback]</div>

Top of my list!

 

MFD to display MPG based on miles driven, not time.

 

I would allow the user to modify the program for controlling when the ICE turns on. I would display (or at least make selectable) more sensors and data. I would have GPS terrain anticipator (forward thinking) logic that would optimize the battery charge state because in knows about the elevation changes and speed changes in the road before you get there. I would have external (front, side, rear) air bladders automatically inflate before a crash. And of course, more electrical storage with plug-in option.


Tideland,
Your logo moves on me. If you stare at the text in your post the blue background shrinks. If you stare at your logo the blue background shrinks. Weird...

 

1. Get rid of the gas engine, the exhaust, the fuel system, the planetary transmission.
2. Add lots of Li-ion batteries and V2G charger.
3. Make it look like the next generation will look.
4. Adjustable lumbar
5. heated seats
6. More power outlets
7. Hand brake instead of foot
8. Incorporated roof-rack anchors
9. Good-looking wheels
10. LED interior lighting
11. LED signal lighting
12. Projector HID
13. Real FOG lights
14. Solar assis, with auto-ventilation when parked
15. Most of what the others have said.

 

Here are the top of my list:

the ability to pop open the hatchback from inside the car (I know its open but the grocery clerk can't find the way to open it!!)

More ability to control the phone and navigation by driver or passenger when moving

a 'legal' EV switch in the North American vehicle

A choice of leather upholstery in Canada

the ability to get a darker interior than bisque in Canada with Barcelona Red --- the light colour is a mistake!!

 

Wow.

Shakers. For starters, lots of people own Prii, but have no idea how to drive them for maximum efficiency. Here's what I'd do: add shakers to the steering wheel. When you drive inefficiently, the steering wheel would 'vibrate' a bit to tell you. The more inefficiently you drive, the more it vibrates the wheel. As you drive, and slip into a bad driving habit/mode, the wheel gently nudges you back into a more efficient mode. The Prius would need to be programmed to recognize bad driving habits... this might be the biggest challenge, as you don't want the car telling you to drive 45mph when you really want to go 70. Yes, we could do something similar by watching one of the info screens, but the vibrate way would allow you to do it almost subconsiously. The Prius would essentially 'teach' it's owner how to drive by modifying the owner's driving habits and style. Of course, you'd need to be able to disable this function if you really weren't interested in learning. Wheel shakers have been around for a long time... they're used in some aircraft to alert the pilots to certain things, and they're also used in video games to provide feedback to players.

Efficiency-enabled navigation system. We're already looking at the shortest or fastest route information... how about tying in topographic information and allowing the Prius to calculate the most fuel efficient route? I'm sure the Prius can calculate how much energy can be derived from going downhill, and if it knows where the downhill parts of your route are, it could plan much better.

Solar panels. Yeah, they might not be that efficient, but they'd be cool. There is a lot of space on top of the car... some flexible solar panels would look really good there. Isn't there a photo-reactive paint in development somewhere?

Built-in AC inverter. Give us an outlet in the car for AC items. I usually carry a portable inverter for my laptop, and it runs fine off the Prius. In fact, last year, I used the Prius to power my laptop and a computerized telescope. About once an hour, the Prius ICE would turn on, charge for five minutes, and then shut off.

Plug-in. This would only work with improved batteries, but give us the option of plugging in our Prii at night.

Scrubbers. Saab or Volvo did a prototype a few years ago of a system that used solar power to scrub pollutants (CO2?) from the air around it. Since the car had a solar panel, it would detect when it had excess battery power and run the scrubbers even when the car was off and parked. It essentially became a less-than-zero emission vehicle. Yes, not exactly necessary, but really cool. Can you imagine parking next to a Hummer, and 'taking care' of it's emissions?

Built in MP3 player with a hard drive. C'Mon Toyota, make a relationship with Apple. Add WiFi so I can update all my podcasts while parked in the garage!

Functionality lockouts. Get rid of them. If I want to dial the phone from the screen, let me... it's my car, and I promise not to sue you. At least create a permanent way to disable the lockouts

Plural. Put the plural of Prius somewhere in the owner's manual. End the argument once and for all. Personally, I'm voting for "Prii".

Dan

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prianista @ May 24 2006, 09:04 PM) [snapback]260749[/snapback]</div>

I think a manual lever by the driver would be better. That way if there's no power you don't have to crawl into the trunk to get to the battery.

 

In addition to those suggestions already made, I would change the arm rest and console material...I'm afraid to touch it unless I'm straight out of the shower.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ May 25 2006, 12:00 AM) [snapback]260711[/snapback]</div>

I agree! When I first bought mine, I found lots of things that I would change, because I wasn't used to it- but now that I have had it over a year, there isn't a whole lot I would change. I am not an engineer, so I can't get into the computer crap- but funtionally it seems to do it's job just fine for me- I do hate battling the sun- all visors should have the little extenders IMO

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sam-I-Am @ May 24 2006, 10:10 PM) [snapback]260768[/snapback]</div>

:lol:

Me: ...and I'd like that with the Placebo Shifter Package.

Dealer: Certainly sir, would you care for the optional Vroom-Vroom sound effects?

Me: No, I can do that myself.

 

What changes would I make to this fantastic vehicle? Increase the size of the nickel metal hydride batterys, (the lithium batterys are still not proven for hybrid's constant charging and discharging) make the passeger and driver seats adjustable (up and down) ......Give the option to plug in and charge the batterys, And that's about it. Great vehicle! I've had my 2006 for 2 weeks now and its great!!

 

The Hatch thing that also comes to mind is for it to be auto-opening with a push button on the fob.

 

1) Forward visibility. Maybe it's because the seat has no height adjustment and I'm 5'6, but the forward visibility seems really bad. My new Camry Hybrid seems better in this respect, but probably just because of the seat height adjustment it has.

2) Cheap interior. The interior is poorly laid out, the dashboard gauges are weirdly offset and are cheap, the console is too hard for the driver to see when driving, and it's completely dark at night except the console which is very bright. Fortunately the Camry Hybrid has none of these problems except the last one -- it too is very dark, with few switches being lit, except for the center console area which is very bright. Both the darkness and the single bright area are bad. For example, the controls to lock/unlock the doors, or open the windows, or adjust the side mirrors, are all completely unlit and thus invisible at night, in the Camry and AFAIR in the Prius too.

3) Flexible fuel bladder. Of course the Camry has a normal 17.2-gallon gas tank which gives it phenomenal range even while getting 10 mpg less than a Prius.

4) So bland and boring to drive. Fortunately the Camry is more enjoyable.

So there's alot I don't like about the Prius, but the Camry suffers from almost none of them. Of course it is heavy and large, a problem the Prius does not have.

 

Gathering all the posts just convert the camery into a hatch back & get a GEM on a pull behind trailer for ddarrll

 

1) Add optional turn signals to side mirrors.
2) Better battery system able to take the car at least 20 miles on battery alone.
3) Optional plugin capability.
4) Optional EV switch
5) Adjustable Lumbar supports in front seats
6) Move backup beep to outside the car

 

Things that come to mind for me are:

Larger fuel bladder.
E/V option.
Slightly brighter lit buttons on the steering wheel.
More hatchback door options (like remote spring-open).
A third choice, a simulated duel Tachometer display, to the Energy and Consumption choices.
And of course, plug-in Lithium battery (and upgrade option).

Personally, I like the seats fine--I find them comfortable at 6'0" tall with long torso and 400+ lbs.

And I absolutely hate the "shakers" idea, unless it can be easily disabled.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finally_got_one @ May 25 2006, 07:59 PM) [snapback]261094[/snapback]</div>

7) built in keg tap for ice cold beer at tailgate parties.

 

don't have one yet, but the whiplash safety on the seats and lack of lumbar adjustable support and the ability to raise the seat even manually would helpme, I'm short and have a neck injury.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(momfortheenvironment @ May 25 2006, 10:27 PM) [snapback]261151[/snapback]</div>

Ok they make the Ronco Butt-Pillow to lift you.
Fire/Rescue C-Collar for the neck injury & a Lumbar pillow for your back....