Toyota Announces "totally new" hybrid, intro in 2009

[TRD-MX83]

Originally Posted by blacken

actually those are there as a added bonus
toyota dont add them to jack up the price
they placed them there so people wouldnt feel ripped off paying for the prius
if they removed them prius would still be the same price

Care to show where LCD's and LED's are free? Because last I checked I didn't know Toyota can get FREE LCD's and LED's?

I agree that it may not be "much" more when they build so many, but at the same time, cutting cost is always good. Talking from raw materials, if the prius didn't have LCD and LEDs and all the electronic stuff in it. it will be lighter, and cheaper to make for Toyota. Whether they want to pass those savings along or not is another story.

(side note: I remember back in the day when a computer manufacturer went from copper screws to steel ones... they saved like 1 cent per screw. They did it anyways... 1 cent may not seem like a alot... but considering how many screws are used and how many PC's they built a yr. that's a HUGE savings.)



I agree with the others about the star-treky interior. exactly sulu... my parent's would not know how to use a Prius.. with out teaching them... but give them a corolla interior, it's much easier for them.

And I also agree with Dave... people that want a yaris size hybrid want to have HIGH MPG...

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by TRD-MX83

To Sulu's comments...

I think for me, it's not the size only factor. I like the Camry hybrid, since:

a) it looks like a regular camry
b) it doesn't have that huge LCD and electronics like in the Prius.

So if Toyota will make a PRIUS, without the LED gauges, and large LCD in the middle and basically have a regular interior. that will be great.

Size is definitely one thing... but I just don't want/need or want to pay for the 6" LCD in the middle of the Prius or the LED gauges, or the touch button start. Give me a Corolla CE interior, with a Key, and hybrid system. (only change is like the camry hybrid, where there's a MPG gauge instead of the Tach.)

Yeah you'd like the TCH lol. To mirror fan's reply, yeah once you have SKS, you don't wanna go back. Most of the hybrid owners of the RX and 1st gen HiHy complained about the lack of SKS and why they're stuck with a traditional key . That screen is 7" and it does help get you better mpg. That's how I got 3.9L/100km. No way could I have done that without the screen.

Originally Posted by Sulu

I agree. I am considering what my next vehicle will be when the lease ends on my 2007 Camry LE. I would like a Corolla Hybrid. If that is not available, I would consider a regular Corolla or a Camry Hybrid; the last choice would be the new Prius, if it does not come with the full Star-Treky interior. Give me a "regular" car with the addition of a hybrid system. I don't like the Prius' interior, and the thing that really bothers me is the lack of a normal gearshift lever, because it would probably scare away my wife from accepting the vehicle.

I think the reasons for the Star-Trek interior are:

• The LCD instrumentation was put there to emphasize that the Prius is a highly-advanced, future-technology vehicle.
• The other electronics (climate-control, etc.) were put there to give buyers a greater sense that they were getting something more -- something they could see -- for the $2000 to $3000 premium over a similarly-sized Corolla. Toyota did that in the Camry Hybrid also; in terms of features, the Camry Hybrid is closer to a Camry XLE than a Camry LE. That tells me that these fancy electronics actually cost very little, so that Toyota can afford to give them away in a hybrid vehicle.

Ditto. I like the size of the current Prius but wished it was a bit wider. The shifter is by-wire hence the joystick. I think it looks better than the shift-by-wire controls on the BMWs which look like some tumour'd cactus growing in the centre console.

Originally Posted by Sulu

I
I do not think that it would be economical to make hybrid vehicles that are Yaris-sized or smaller. The Yaris already consumes very little fuel, and adding a hybrid system would not save that much fuel. Adding a hybrid system to any car makes the following differences:

• It would use about one-quarter to one-third less fuel, according to current EPA figures. Saving one-third on fuel on a car that already uses little fuel is not going to be that great.
• It would add complexity, with much more complex control computer software required to make the two drivetrains work together. Adding complexity to a small car may not be a good thing; it would be more stuff that could go wrong.
• It would add weight. Remember that you are, in effect, adding another, parallel drivetrain, with a heavy battery. Adding weight to a small car will make it slower, harder to drive, and may, in fact, add to the fuel it consumes, so that the fuel saved with the hybrid system being used up by the extra weight.
• The added complexity and added drivetrain (especially the battery) will add to the cost. Adding $2000 to the cost of a larger vehicle does not seem that much more, but on top of an inexpensive, small car, that may make the small hybrid unsellable.

I don't know... the Prius is Corolla-sized outside and Camry-sized inside yet gets fantastic mpg. The new Corolla gets nearly identical mpg to the Yaris right now (check toyota.ca).

A TCH gets mileage better than the Yaris so a Yaris HSD should get close to 2.8-3.9L/100km easily.

[TRD-MX83]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Yeah you'd like the TCH lol. To mirror fan's reply, yeah once you have SKS, you don't wanna go back. Most of the hybrid owners of the RX and 1st gen HiHy complained about the lack of SKS and why they're stuck with a traditional key . That screen is 7" and it does help get you better mpg. That's how I got 3.9L/100km. No way could I have done that without the screen.

Hmm.. I've driven cars and rented cars for a week with that thing... I hate it. My friends that have it say the same thing. Battery needs to be replaced yearly or so. Sometimes you forget where it is, and you wash it.. (happened to a friend) I hate having stuff in my pockets, so I end up throwing it in the center dash console somewhere while it rattles and moves around while I drive. (I guess I'm old fashioned.. I want my KEY. )

As for the 7" LCD... I get 38-40 mpg in my parent's Automatic tranny Corolla. and I don't have that screen, so I don't think a 7" LCD will help me anymore if I end up watching it more than the traffic in front of me.

I think the Tach being replaced by the Instant MPG gauge is perfect on the Camry Hybrid, and I'd love a Yaris/Corolla Hybrid with a "simple" interior.

[RningOnFumes]

Originally Posted by TRD-MX83

I think the Tach being replaced by the Instant MPG gauge is perfect on the Camry Hybrid, and I'd love a Yaris/Corolla Hybrid with a "simple" interior.

Don't forget to make it Plug in Capable.

[TRD-MX83]

Originally Posted by RningOnFumes

Don't forget to make it Plug in Capable.

Yes of course!

[vasia]

My guess is we might see a production FT-HS.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by TRD-MX83

Hmm.. I've driven cars and rented cars for a week with that thing... I hate it. My friends that have it say the same thing. Battery needs to be replaced yearly or so. Sometimes you forget where it is, and you wash it.. (happened to a friend) I hate having stuff in my pockets, so I end up throwing it in the center dash console somewhere while it rattles and moves around while I drive. (I guess I'm old fashioned.. I want my KEY. )

As for the 7" LCD... I get 38-40 mpg in my parent's Automatic tranny Corolla. and I don't have that screen, so I don't think a 7" LCD will help me anymore if I end up watching it more than the traffic in front of me.

I think the Tach being replaced by the Instant MPG gauge is perfect on the Camry Hybrid, and I'd love a Yaris/Corolla Hybrid with a "simple" interior.

ahh hahahaha. Hmm, mine's pushing 4 years on the stock battery in the fob and I use mine as the main fob since I usually drive the car.

Yeah but drive the Prius normally and you'll get 4.7-5.0L/100km (47-50mpg). Drive with the screen and fine tune and you get 60mpg... Yeah there isn't much more you can do on a regular car but with the Prius, knowing the nuances of the system and using them to your advantage can boost the mpg.

[100$ GUY]

Originally Posted by ECHOKnight2000

Nice. Can't wait for the Detroit show. Toyota is doing the one-two punch.

punch one toyota, punch two honda.

[TRD-MX83]

Camry Hybrid win's over the Prius!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*

[knj27]

What I want to see is a moderately priced hybrid, possibly a plug-in, that can pull off 40-50 mpg that is actually attractive (like the Corolla, maybe), unlike the freaky-looking Prius. I think that would be practical for a lot more people.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by TRD-MX83

Camry Hybrid win's over the Prius!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*

I thought they just preferred it. The way I read it, it seems like they're just showcasing the two vehicles and giving the reader a perspective on the two and how they're similar and different and why they'd choose one over the other.

[ECHOKnight2000]

Originally Posted by knj27

What I want to see is a moderately priced hybrid, possibly a plug-in, that can pull off 40-50 mpg that is actually attractive (like the Corolla, maybe), unlike the freaky-looking Prius. I think that would be practical for a lot more people.

That's why they have the Camry hybrid. I know it doesn't get 50mpg (at least under "normal" conditions) but a Yaris can get 40 plus, 50 in some case so if its a plug in, I'd expect higher mileage.

[blacken]

a corolla hybrid would roll of the lots like crazy
i mean like mad super crazy
like super duper selling flapjack hotcakes crazy
do you have any idea how awesome that would rock
The style and refinement of a Corolla with the economy of a prius

=O~ i think i just drooled

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by blacken

a corolla hybrid would roll of the lots like crazy
i mean like mad super crazy
like super duper selling flapjack hotcakes crazy
do you have any idea how awesome that would rock
The style and refinement of a Corolla with the economy of a prius

=O~ i think i just drooled

Given that it's lighter and has the new 1.8 litre, I would think slightly better than the Prius in FE.

[blacken]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Given that it's lighter and has the new 1.8 litre, I would think slightly better than the Prius in FE.

aside fromt he fact the corolla looks super sexxy =D and the prius like a odd looking bullet type thing heh heh

i might even trade in my celica for a hybrid Corolla

Corolla S Hybrid =P a hybrid with a body kit and a spoiler woot