2010 Prius unveiled: Cd 0.25, 50 mpg EPA combined, EV mode

[oldpecan]

how fast can the 2010 go in strictly electric mode?

IIRC the Gen II Prius nominally would go 43 MPH, electric only, wasn't it?, if you had a light touch on the gas pedal...but then some smarties reported the gasoline engine was sometimes "off" (or either appeared to be "off", according to the display) at much higher speeds, like 50+, on level road, if you weren't accelerating.

[Daox]

They haven't released that information afaik.

[PaleMelanesian]

If you entered a glide below the 41mph cutoff, and then accelerated past 41, the ICE would stay off. Down a mountain is one place for this. Trouble is, you had to watch your speed, since the MG1 motor would toast somewhere around 10,000 rpm, which came at 61 mph. The default programming that forced the engine to run above 41 mph would protect it. Due to some planetary gear magic, running the engine lowers the electric motor rpm.

[PaleMelanesian]

The word from Wayne in Detroit - still 41 mph limit on engine-off glides.

[MetroMPG]

Well that settles it! I'm not buying one!

[Formula413]

Great stuff. It even looks cooler.

They really do need to man up and give it wheel skirts. I can't imagine them losing sales because consumers are turned off by them, people buy Priuss (Prii?) because they SCREAM high mpg. And at least make moon discs an option.

[jamesqf]

I'm not terribly impressed. It's nice that they have the more luxury options for those that want them, but some of us don't. (Just as we only want two seats.) I wonder if they're starting to go into the Detroit navel-gazing spiral: "we've made this kind of vehicle, and it's selling well, that must mean it's what everybody wants, so let's make it a little bit bigger & add a few luxury options so we can sell more of them, 'cause it's the only kind of car anyone could possibly want..."

They'd do better to offer a range of types: a 2-seat sports car, a minivan, a small pickup, maybe a bigger sedan aimed at the taxicab market...

[Formula413]

Or better yet, make the entire vehicle line available as hybrids. And add underbody panels and whatever other aero parts are feasible/practical to all models.

[jdub]

I tried to do the overlay for the old and new Prius but they are so close that its very hard to tell when they are on top of each other which one is which. The difference is mostly styling on the rear valance and then the apex of the roof is slid backwards (this is even visible to me in just looking at the two shots) and the slope of the hood on the new model is more in line with the windshield angle than the older model. There are some slight differences with the dangly bits hanging below the rockers and the front bumper overhang, but outside of that the cars are still very close in overall shape, you would have to be really zoomed on on the specific areas to see the differences.

[cfg83]

Formula413 -

Originally Posted by Formula413

Or better yet, make the entire vehicle line available as hybrids. And add underbody panels and whatever other aero parts are feasible/practical to all models.

I have read that this has been their long term strategy form the start.

They are tweaking a wiener right now with a stable platform. I wanted them to offer a plug-in option, but as long as they don't short-circuit the after-market from doing this anyway, I don't mind for now.

An "extreme-aero" option pack that has wheel skirts is definitely a no-brainer.

CarloSW2