Rendered Speculation: li-ion Lexus Prius for 2010?
Over on the VWvortex Forums, forum member DoctorNo says that what you see above is a rendering of the new Lexus Prius. This new hybrid (in more than one sense) will feature lithium-ion batteries, all the luxury amenities one would expect from the brand and should be available in late 2010 or early 2011. This redesigned Prius would blend elements that made the Prius so popular (the hybrid synergy drive, of course, and some of design language) while moving into a Lexus look and a $30,000+ price tag. If li-ion batteries are included, then that's not too bad. No rumors about a plug, though.
Also, according to what DoctorNo translates from the scanned Japanese magazine text, Toyota's next Prius will use the 1.8L 2ZR engine instead of 1NZ.
[Source: VWvortex Forums]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Throwback 4:03PM (4/10/2008)
A bigger gas engine would indicate more size and weight. Not sure if that is the direction Prius buyers want Toyota to go. Sounds like the xB formula.
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Rick 7:00PM (4/10/2008)
Wow that looks awful.
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Lupo 4:49PM (4/10/2008)
looks better than the prius sea cow, but still seams bloated
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Mike Z 5:35PM (4/10/2008)
I agree, the biggest thing that stops me from buying a Prius is how ugly I think it is.
Of course I think the Lexus will likely sacrifice some MPG for quieter ride, more power, and a nicer interior--but it will likely still get >45mpg and appeal to people that likely would not of gotten a Prius in the first place.
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Ping 10:46PM (4/10/2008)
Am I the only one who thinks this car looks beautiful?
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SPG 6:06AM (4/11/2008)
It might be a luxo'd status symbol but at least it's an energy saver.
Better then the whole (thankfully dying) Hummer craze.
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Hybrids still burn gas 6:11AM (4/11/2008)
Good for Lexus if they can sell the suckers out there a rebadged Prius for more $$$.
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Chris 7:17AM (4/11/2008)
No your not Ping, I think it looks just fine.
I can understand using the premium brand to market the car with more expensive batteries. It gets the technology on the street and creates demand which in turn should help bring the prices down for the regular consumer in a few years.
GM is basically trying to skip that step and I hope the succeed. Toyota seems to be of the old "tried and true" model and doesn't want to risk jumping tracks
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Karkus 11:45AM (4/11/2008)
The Prius already increased power AND MPG when it went from the 2003 to 2004 model, and I'm pretty sure that's the plan for the next gen Prius too.
And yes, Lexus buyers tend to want more power than a Toyota buyer. The rich want to feel more powerful than the commoners.
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MikeW 12:50PM (4/11/2008)
The Prius got more power from increasing the engine speed from 4500-5000. (and from 4000-4500 before that)
What is left to do, direct injection, variable exhaust valve timing, ValveMatic?
or just increase the engine size from 1.5 liters.
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Ed 1:31PM (4/11/2008)
I'd like to find out if the Lion batteries hold more amp/hours than the NiMh currently in use. Also, are they increasing the power of the electric motor? Lion being a lighter technology, the thing will perform better just from hauling less weight.
As noted in the article, will it have a plug? (I'm skeptical as the more affluent are less likely to bother.)
All very interesting, but wake me when Toyota stuffs the Lion plug-in hybrid drive train into a Sienna.
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Matt Nelson 3:52PM (4/11/2008)
Hey Ed, I hear you. I suppose the next gen Sienna will get a hybrid option. It is way overdue.
While our current 04 Sienna gets a fairly decent 21-22mpg, our next family hauler will have to get better mpg.
Regarding the rendering of the Lexus version: it seems to be a minor change from the current model. I am sure the 3rd gen Prius/Lexus will be noticably different from the previous version. The 2nd gen was definitely more modern looking than the 1st gen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Toyota-Prius.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Prius2004.JPG
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Kevin Nugent 10:29PM (4/11/2008)
Well it looks better than the pruis . I would rather just get the 3rd generation pruis. It almost looks the same. But what really interest me is how many horses would be under the hood.
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T2 7:22AM (4/12/2008)
@ MikeW
"What is left to do, direct injection, variable exhaust valve timing, ValveMatic"
Although I think the Prius is adequately powered.....
Elimination of sprocket chain take-off from PSD ring gear assy would save 6% torque loss, as was done with the Camry drivetrain.
Changing the final ratio to 5.00 from 4.113 wouldn't do much by itself because Prius is a constant power system as others have pointed out.
Of course there would be the incremental advantage of effectively offloading more power to the mechanical and less to the electrical path.
However if at the same time the ICE could be allowed 6000rpm as with the similar Camry Atkinsonised engine, then considering : -
MG1= 3.6 * ICE - 2.6 * MG2
Inserting 20% increases all round. MG1 goes to 12000rpm, MG2 to 7200rpm and the bus voltage will max to 600v. This will put MG2 up to 60kw and the ring gear take-off from 6.6Hp to 7.9Hp per 10mph.
I don't see that sort of change in the works from Toyota unless they are pushed. In the mean time Honda will be coming out with their new hybrid which may well be a series hybrid this time around.
It is important to understand that the Prius is NOT intended to be an electric car, despite the efforts of those who would want to PHEV it into one. The Prius is all about the advantage of an electrical transmission for fuel economy with lower harmful emissions. This means also the ability to use smaller high speed engines whose development is still in the future. Unfortunately those poor dummies over at GM working on the VOLT don't get it. They perceive the gasoline engine as an add-on for range extension, and are going to price themselves out of the mainstream market by incorporating a very expensive "boutique energy storage" system to, in effect, store the equivalent of a gallon of gas.
Toyolla2
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