2019 Prius update

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Discussion

saaby93

Original Poster:

32,038 posts

183 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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AmitG

3,336 posts

165 months

Thursday 7th March 2019
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Personally I preferred the old styling. It was crazy, but that's what I loved about it.

But there is good news...they have got rid of that horrible white plastic in the interior, it is now black plastic everywhere. It's boring but frankly it looks better.

The infotainment is upgraded and now has physical buttons. Honda please take note.

There is an AWD version, but apparently the rear motor is just for traction in the snow, it isn't really AWD in the normal sense.

I had a Gen4 before and I absolutely loved it. I'm tempted to get another one in that funky blue colour.

AmitG

3,336 posts

165 months

Wednesday 13th March 2019
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This raises a more fundamental question. After this Gen4 facelift, where does Toyota go with the Prius Gen5?

The Prius was always about exceptional fuel economy. But nearly all Toyota's cars are hybrids now, many with exactly the same platform and drivetrain as the Prius, and similar fuel economy. The Prius doesn't stand out any more.

You could even argue that there is no point to the Prius any more, because the technology has gone mainstream. It served its purpose. You could argue that they should call it "job done" and axe it.

Personally I think they should go even more radical for the Gen5. Think of the VW XL1, but more mainstream. Make it a niche model and use it to pioneer new technologies, just like it used to.


Otispunkmeyer

12,882 posts

160 months

Wednesday 13th March 2019
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Prius should just become pure EV...

FlossyThePig

4,089 posts

248 months

Thursday 14th March 2019
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Otispunkmeyer said:
Prius should just become pure EV...
But Toyota have said they are not going to make EVs apart from Fuel Cell versions.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

259 months

Thursday 14th March 2019
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No demand apparently.

kambites

68,174 posts

226 months

Thursday 14th March 2019
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FlossyThePig said:
But Toyota have said they are not going to make EVs apart from Fuel Cell versions.
When did they say that? I've just announced a huge joint venture with Panasonic to design and produce EV battery cells which hardly sounds like the actions of a company who believe the future is not in BEVs.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

259 months

Thursday 14th March 2019
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kambites said:
FlossyThePig said:
But Toyota have said they are not going to make EVs apart from Fuel Cell versions.
When did they say that? I've just announced a huge joint venture with Panasonic to design and produce EV battery cells which hardly sounds like the actions of a company who believe the future is not in BEVs.
They've just come out and said they will use those batteries for hybrids, because they can make more of them, they have zero published plans for a pure BEV.

Smiljan

11,047 posts

202 months

Thursday 14th March 2019
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Toyota's explanation for their current strategy

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-elect...


RobDickinson

31,343 posts

259 months

Thursday 14th March 2019
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"Per Toyota, selling 1.5 million hybrid cars reduces carbon emissions by a third more than selling 28,000 EVs "

That in essence is correct but dong that doesnt drive economies of scale to shift to BEV at all, in the long run we'd all still be driving mild hybrids in 2050.