Some Insider Notes on the 2017 Prius Prime - Part 2

The regular Gen4's covers come off from the back after one has removed the wheel via the lug nuts. But I don't see the lug nuts when looking at those Prime wheels, so I am also puzzled about this.

 

Ew. Gonna be a bi**h to rotate the tires.

 

That's your chauffeur's problem. You'll be too busy enjoying those comfy rear seats.

 

Well, you didn't have to remove the rings on the gen2 to get to the lugs.
The Sable has caps over the lugnuts; they were thin metal over plastic. Taking them off required using the tire iron to pry them off, so you had to be careful to not scratch them or the wheels, and it was easy to bend the cover.

 

pip has no wheel covers on 15".

 

Easy. Pull the wheel covers off by hand. Lug nuts are right there. I had the covers off to fit my air chuck on the valve stems to check the tire pressure. Nothing to it.

 

^ Are the wheels nice enough on their own to keep the covers off permanently?

 

I thought so. All the Prius look so much better with the hubcaps removed

 

Toyota has a nice Plus, Premium, and Advanced features comparisons:
2017 Toyota Prius Prime Interior Specs & Options

I was about to spend money on a combined GPS+dash cam solution. Seeing even the Plus trim has navigation, I can go with a simple dash cam and save about $100.

Bob Wilson

 

It may seem trivial but Why can't we have sun visors that extend so we can block sun coming into side window?

 

Many people find the Toyota navigation lacking. I know my son with his 2015 Prius v tried the Toyota navigation and them promptly went back to using his Garmin GPS.

 

New Question:
On the front fascia, in the blacked out area just underneath the Toyota logo, are two recessed pockets that I guess the front license plate bracket can fasten to for those states that require a front plate. But why did Toyota make these two pockets recessed rather than flat for aerodynamics for all those who do not need a front plate. Is there some other function that caused the need for the recesses?

 

Or perhaps a foam and fiberglass cover that matches the body color and makes the car look less like a hungry catfish. <grins>

Still there are some interesting, recessed vortex generators on the surface (i.e., think golf ball.) A vortex generator spins the air so it 'sticks' to a surface and flows along the side. There are times when they work and times where it makes me wonder Wth?

Bob wilson

 

My guess is because of aesthetics.
Then most places require a front plate.

 

[QUOTE="bwilson4web, post: 2472530, member:
Still there are some interesting, recessed vortex generators on the surface (i.e., think golf ball.) A vortex generator spins the air so it 'sticks' to a surface and flows along the side. There are times when they work and times where it makes me wonder Wth?
Bob wilson[/QUOTE]
Since I can not see the internal details of the recessed areas in any photos or videos I would assume the recesses are not ducts in order to be vortex generators. Can anyone who owns a Prime confirm that the 2 recesses trap air as opposed to letting air flow thru to an outside temperature sensor or something else that is located behind the fascia? Thanks

 

Photo in pdf showing the recesses right below and to the right and left of the Toyota front logo.
It looks as if there is an opening on the inboard side of each recess allowing a minor amount of air to pass behind the front acrylic black fascia. But how effective is this once a front license plate bracket is mounted to some Primes?