CD Article: 2010 Toyota Prius

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


Completely redesigned for 2010, the Toyota Prius has a larger engine than before, but still achieves better fuel economy. Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh says that it handles better as well, and offers driver-selectable modes for economy or power.
 More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

[airbalancer]

What did you think of the LED headlights?

In a 80 km trip on the 401 from Port Union Rd to Cobourg, cruise set at 104 we avg 3.9 l/100km

The 3 things I do not like are
1) the steering  should leather
2) radio & hvac controls should be in colour, instead ugly
3) sun roof is noise when opened

[Rupert]

I think that this might be the future of motoring generally. Plug-in electric for local journeys. Great machine and 100 HP/ton.

[EV Dan]

I'd be interested in any car with such drive train, but not this Prius. The exterior simply doesn't grow on me. too boxy and the wheels are disproportionally small. I don't see why Toyota can't make something light, low, aerodynamic and sporty at the same time, something resembling Celica, which would appeal to much bigger crowd, not just the green minded folk. 

[airbalancer]

Dan, are you talking about the 15" wheels or 17"
You do take a 1-2 mileage hit with the large wheels

The Prius is the car with the lowest CD for a hatchback all ready

Appeal to a bigger crowd ?
http://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090904/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_toyota_prius.html

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/09/prius-sales-outmuscle-muscle-cars-in-august.html

http://www.hybridcar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=740&Itemid=45

Once gas get back about $1.25 l, what would the appeal be?

Dan, go take on for a drive around town and tell us what you think

[initial_D]

Maybe the no leather has to do with the "Green Statement" - no animal hives were tested?

[johngenx]

- no animal hives were tested?

Bee leather?

[initial_D]

No look two too bad.

[EV Dan]

Dan, go take on for a drive around town and tell us what you think

If only I had time... maybe in winter.
Prius is designed around the fuel economy figure, and it influenced everything in it, from the drivetrain, to the wheels, to the shape, to even this unusual look about it. But why not make something based on the previous small Rav4 or a sporty Celica using the identical drivetrain? Yes, you would lose 200-400ml/100km, but still beat a diesel in city driving.

[airbalancer]

Dan, go take on for a drive around town and tell us what you think

If only I had time... maybe in winter.
Prius is designed around the fuel economy figure, and it influenced everything in it, from the drivetrain, to the wheels, to the shape, to even this unusual look about it. But why not make something based on the previous small Rav4 or a sporty Celica using the identical drivetrain? Yes, you would lose 200-400ml/100km, but still beat a diesel in city driving.

Lack of battery producing could be slowing them down

here a link from June of this year http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/report-toyotas-hybrid-supra-successor-on-track-for-2011/
http://www.caradvice.com.au/2926/toyota-supra-update/

http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/rav4-hybrid.html

[initial_D]

Dan, go take on for a drive around town and tell us what you think

If only I had time... maybe in winter.
Prius is designed around the fuel economy figure, and it influenced everything in it, from the drivetrain, to the wheels, to the shape, to even this unusual look about it. But why not make something based on the previous small Rav4 or a sporty Celica using the identical drivetrain? Yes, you would lose 200-400ml/100km, but still beat a diesel in city driving.

Sure they can make it like a Joe-meets-Jane. But an EV is a  Special Statement Vehicle, most people buy them for that, so that others notice them.

[airbalancer]

Dan is this more to you liking

or this http://www.speedmotiv.com/2009/09/25/view-rambling/asi-junior-brand-toyota-prius

[airbalancer]

pix of a bottom of a Prius, one reason you pay more, how many car worry about cd on the bottom of a car
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/68549-photos-taken-bottom-my-prius.html

[Bullet Blue]

Our company is seriously considering this gen Prius to add to our fleet. I think it's the best looking Prius to date (although that's not saying much). Seems like cargo with the seats down is comparable to the Focus wagons we've been using.

[EV Dan]

http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/rav4-hybrid.html

/LOL @ the pimped Prius/

I have another suggestion for toyota. If they have battery shortage, just dig up those Rav EV blueprints and start selling the car sans the batteries. I know they will never do it, but if they did, the local government would prolly back it up with $10,000 rebate, and for this kind of dough I could order Li-ions for whatever range I need. Seriously, why BS from toyota and others about how expensive it is to develop an EV when they already HAVE a decade ago. Just sell it as a kit with limited warranty and there will be a long waiting list of enthusiasts and small businesses doing battery retrofits.

[tpl]

pix of a bottom of a Prius, one reason you pay more, how many car worry about cd on the bottom of a car
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/68549-photos-taken-bottom-my-prius.html

the answer is  McLaren,Ferrari,Brawn,Renault, Toyota, Force India.......   At least  1/3 or the aero design is on the underside.

And IIRC Citroen in the days of the DS used to worry about that underside as well back 40 years ago.   i think that Lexus do now as well.

[airbalancer]

Our company is seriously considering this gen Prius to add to our fleet. I think it's the best looking Prius to date (although that's not saying much). Seems like cargo with the seats down is comparable to the Focus wagons we've been using.

A model 1 in the US would great for a fleet car
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/69521-prius-i-other-news.html
I think it pretty cool that they get company post on the site

[Iso Octane]

pix of a bottom of a Prius, one reason you pay more, how many car worry about cd on the bottom of a car
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/68549-photos-taken-bottom-my-prius.html

That's a pretty cool shot.  Sports cars seek performance in one way, the Prius seeks performance in another.  As long as it's technology being used to push the limit of something, it's all good.  

[Honda Owner]

You really have to give Toyota credit for the Prius. At a time (1997) when most manufacturers were putting bigger V-8s into faster cars (or bigger SUVs), Toyota went the polar opposite. Detroit laughed that Toyota wouldn't make money and for a while they didn't. Fast forward 13 years and they make money on every one they sell, they keep improving it and keep introducing more models. People line up to buy them and they are not cheap, although the the price gap is getting lower than it was when the car was introduced. Besides, it is not about fuel economy with a Prius. It is about image. The environmental cost of making two drivetrains and especially the battery and it's disposal negates any benefit.

The exception is the taxi market. Taxi operators will use the car that costs them the least, pure and simple. If you want to see that the most reliable and cheap to run car is, look at the taxis on the road. In Vancouver, I'd say that the taxi fleets are 40% Prius and 45% Corolla. That says a lot about Toyota. Ten years ago the domestics owned that market. Not anymore.

Talking about a sport version of a Prius is kind of an oxymoron. People don't buy these things to go fast. They buy them to look cool in a car with good utility. Toyota has taken the old Volvo market. Tree huggers and tweed wearing professors love the Prius. These people don't give a flying you know what about g forces and slalom times but they have the dosh to spend $30k to look Environmentally Correct.

[Mitlov]

Dan is this more to you liking

or this http://www.speedmotiv.com/2009/09/25/view-rambling/asi-junior-brand-toyota-prius

That's small potatoes: