Prius rumors abound: Separate brand, 80 mpg, 3 different models
Click above for more images of the 2010 Toyota Prius
An "insider" at LLN has it on good authority that the oft-rumored Prius brand is, in their words, "a go." According to their source, the goal of the spin-off is to create cheaper hybrid models that would command a marginal premium over their standard, hybrid-free counterparts.
The rumormill pot gets stirred a bit more with the claim that the 2010 Prius could achieve up to 80 mpg. Combine that with the rumblings about a Prius price cut and it's starting to look like the Volt will have it's work cut out for it. Informed speculation also says that the reworked Prius may be joined by an upscale five-door Prius model in the $28-30,000 range and that Toyota could be planning a four-door "Baby Prius" expected to sell in the mid-teens, utilizing a nickel metal hydride battery pack and coming to market in 2013.
Gallery: Confirmed: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: LLN]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kumail 6:02PM (10/30/2008)
i honestly don't care, unless they can come up with a coupe' or hatch that has respectable speed and appeal.
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aaron 7:59PM (10/30/2008)
well... ur prob not the target buyer any ways. go find the car you want like. don't bash fuel saving space pod! speed does not apply here.
Torrent 6:05PM (10/30/2008)
Now just make it look like a car and not a space pod with 370Z headlights......
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Torrent 6:07PM (10/30/2008)
Oh also, I can run faster than a Prius, FIX IT..
Do that and I'll maybe almost probably definitely not ever have almost no problem without it. lmao
Todd 6:06PM (10/30/2008)
OH SNAP!
80 miles to the gallon? Sold!
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nardvark 6:13PM (10/30/2008)
smells like BS to me!
Louis 6:24PM (10/30/2008)
So I assume that the Volt smells like BS to you too huh?
Snowdog 7:01PM (10/30/2008)
Volt getting 80mpg is BS.
They will be lucky to get 50mpg when burning gas. Maybe GM has lobbied the EPA enough to call it 80-100MPG by including the electric range, but that is complete BS which will be discovered by the clueless on their first road trip.
montoym 8:47PM (10/30/2008)
Well, if that's a similar comparison to the 60+mpg the current Prius was advertised to achieve, then we can assume it will be a real-world figure of about 60mpg rather than 80mpg.
Still good, but don't get your hopes up on achieving 80mpg without a fair amount of hypermiling. SImilar to trying to actually achieve 60mpg in the current Prius.
Domestic 6.0 11:10PM (10/30/2008)
Gm will get more than 100 mpg ... Just wait u fools !!! CHANGE IS COMING !!!!!!
P.V. 6:30PM (10/30/2008)
If Toyota could pull off 80 mpg, that would be an astounding feat.
As for 3 different models, make Scion the pure hybrid brand; it has lost its "youth-brand" appeal (although it does have a considerably younger average buying age), and it is just making Toyotas with different badges (no distinguishing personality), so it would be the perfect candidate for a pure hybrid lineup.
Although, now that I think about it, Toyota also has the Camry and Highlander hybrids.
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bh 7:30PM (10/30/2008)
Scion has a young buying age for a brand because it only sells small cars, which typically go to younger buyers. I'd expect if the Civic, Sentra, or Focus were their own brands, they'd have low average buyer ages too.
Gabagool 8:04PM (10/30/2008)
80 MPG could be something else, that would totally kill Honda Insight which if i am not mistaken should have MPGs close to Civic Hybrid 42 MPG. And if Prius will cost a tad less this car could potentially put Corolla out of business.
Snowdog 6:58PM (10/30/2008)
Yeah 80mpg is BS. Things I have read indicated Toyota was aiming at making the car slightly bigger and more powerful while maintaining mpg.
They are at the point of diminishing returns here. All the low hanging fruit have been plucked. Unless the car gets radically lighter and more aerodynamic, there won't be drastic improvements in mpg.
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Gary 7:23PM (10/30/2008)
Apparently, the Japanese fuel economy ratings are far different than in North America.
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Farris 9:25PM (10/30/2008)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Very big gallons.
Max 7:32PM (10/30/2008)
All indication are that Toyota is sticking to Nimh batteries, which means they won't have the capacity to run full electric for long distances. Remember the fit Toyota threw when the gov't revised the hybrid tax credit to be based off battery capacity?
I don't see a huge fuel economy increase AND a price drop occurring simultaneously.
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Travis Rassat 7:42PM (10/30/2008)
While 80 mpg seems pretty far-fetched, I think there can still be a lot to be gained in terms of efficiency capturing, storing, and releasing the available energy that would get the Prius close to that. If you break it down, there are several focus areas from which a lot can be gained by tweaking:
1. The percentage of total system horsepower coming from the electric motor. The Prius is a 201 volt system, compared to the Camry at 244 volts, this probably exemplifies how this area can be pushed a bit more.
2. The amount of energy recaptured from braking - I am curious how much energy can be captured from braking now, what percentage of normal braking is actually done by the motor, and how things such as capacitors could improve the energy recapture. This area alone has a lot of potential.
3. Engine management - implementing things such as cylinder deactivation and direct injection could really help out the highway numbers.
4. CVT improvements - in my Camry Hybrid, there are definitely "sweet spots" that you can find with the CVT at the right speed that will get a little bit better mileage.
5. The top speed for electric-only operation - in the Camry, it's 40 mph, and I can often push it to 42. Cruising around in a 30 or 35 mph zone is still going to kick in the gas. With a little bit more electric power (see 1), it could be pushed a little bit faster in full electric, and help keep it in full electric at useful in-town speeds.
Those are just a few obvious areas. A few tweaks here and there can really make a difference. 80 mpg may be stretching it, but I think 60-65 is certainly within reach.
Of course, I am not an engineer, nor do I play one on TV! lol!
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dstew 8:11PM (10/30/2008)
a not attractive, ill handling, reliable, fantastically engineered piece of (depreciating) sheet metal. As Yoda would put it, "buy it, I will not". Although Toyota has led this segment, the New Fusion design; both interior and exterior, and great handling for the segment make it a more appealing choice. This has little to do with where these 2 vehicles are designed and built. The Fusion looks better, handles better, and has proved itself with first gen 06'-09' m.y. Initial estimate from Ford is only 38 mpg city; a far cry from the estimated 80 mpg for next gen Prius. Competition will continue to make this segment very interesting to watch over the next 5 years...
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Peter 2:08AM (10/31/2008)
Um, i'm not too sure what a Fusion has to do with a Prius. Ford is coming out with a Fusion hybrid that's a completely different segment. That's like comparing a Camry hybrid to a Prius---they handle and drive completely differently. The Prius was bulit from the ground up as a hybrid--the Camry and Fusion were/ are not.