Prius v further delayed

Perhaps they will have time to think of a better name.

The US version uses an older battery technology, but Toyota is still unlikely to introduce it overseas before their home market.

 

Local CDN dealer said it was probably close to a December date for the Touring wagon

 

Lousy article in the paper today saying it may not be here until April 2012.

Also, said 'the latest Prius offers 73 MPG ... then says 'overseas mileage will differ...'

then they stick foot in mouth ...

"Hybrids .... deliver better mileage than regular cars , tend to do so more for slower driving, common in congested Japan, than on highways ... in US"

What????

Look at the display in pic .... this is after driving 50 miles on highway at 65 MPH. 2010 Prius III



That's 58 US MPG. Geez are people confused about Prius.

 

Although poorly worded, it is true that the Prius has a higher mpg rating for city driving than for highway driving. Maybe that's what he reporter was trying to say.

Getting back to the "v," I'd just like to see one in person and get an idea of the dimensions of the cargo area. I'll be in the Denver metro area all summer, in case anyone at Toyota is reading this.

 

Lessee, Japanese mainland is about the size of the UK. Sooo, yeah.

Anywho, I will be waiting in line for mine. I think I will get another Blizzard Pearl and then see if my wife notices that it is a new car. =)

That 73 sounds like it was for the C, not the v. I am there just for the 10dB lower interior noise that I read about.

 

Thanks Paradox. You're correct, US info was just released on Friday to clarify that the article was referring to non-US bound production. The US-bound Prius v is planned for Fall 2011. We are in the process of updating our website which references Summer 2011. As you can all imagine, the earthquake and tsunami have had some unavoidable effects on our launch timing but we are thrilled to say the delay has been minimal.

Best,
Erica Gartsbeyn, Prius Product Marketing, Toyota USA

 

The Japanese 10.15-mode MPG test is wildly optimistic. The current Prius gets a 89.4 MPG rating, so 73 is not all that far off.

 

Yay for you guys! I can't wait for the new awesomeness.

 

Perhaps Prius v stands for Prius Venti, then the regular Prius will be the Prius Grande

I need a coffee

 

+1

That would be my guess, only a trickle at full sticker or above starting in sept or oct, with most of the cars going to japan, then normal shipments sometime in 2012.

 

Japan is officially in a recession, so perhaps there is not a lot of movement on their domestic car market, so perhaps some of those shipments will be retooled for the US market.

In any event, waiting for a blizzard with ivory or dark grey interior (who really likes that light grey crap? reminds me of the interior of my 84 Ford Escort) with leather, nav and rear seat entertainment (unless dealer installed.)

 

Hmmm and here I thought Japan was in a continual recession broken up by occasional spurts of growth. Silly me.

Yeah why does light gray look cheap? Just never have been a fan.

 

Actually you're right, but then so is the US; exponential debt is the only thing hiding it in GDP numbers over the past decade.

I hope Toyota can get production going nice and strong on these and other Priuses. They avoided the naysayers (like me) while gas was cheaper than water, revised their hybrids over years, and now should be poised to obliterate the market for those looking at great fuel economy. The tsunami has put a big wrinkle in that, really beyond their control.

 

I "sold" a Prius v to a lady in a SUV in Walmart parking lot yesterday who was asking how I liked my car. Hope it comes out before she goes to dealer.

 

IMHO the "new battery", "Japan" and "some buyers" are indication of LiIon battery delays which affect 7-seat Japanese Alpha. Do not see it affecting Prius-v.

 

it doesnt work that way at all... production planning has been done long time ago.

If TMS ordered 5k per month, they will get 5k per month. Unplanned demand from Japan will not take vehicles from TMS.

Toyota just started hiring 4000 temp workers in Japan, first time since 2008, in order to catch-up with production numbers.