GEN5 Prius coming the end of next year, lower coefficient of drag and better efficiency

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

The novelty has worn off, but not the utility. For those that know, a Corolla is a poor substitute for a Prius.

Right, but just make one car. I think the Corolla name would sell better and has a longer heritage. So the novelty has worn off the Prius but the stigma has not. So you don't get people buying it anymore to make a green statement, but you do get people avoiding it because of the stigma it has. Make a hybrid only Corolla as a larger hatch and get the sales back up again.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Vwbeamer

Are you talking Timing belts? If so, I can't remeber the last toyota with a rubber belt, so I googled, it was 2006.

https://www.cashcarsbuyer.com/toyota...belt-or-chain/

My Pacifica Hybrid has a motor with a timing chain, a Ecvt with all gears, and all electric accessories so no belts.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Right, but just make one car. I think the Corolla name would sell better and has a longer heritage. So the novelty has worn off the Prius but the stigma has not. So you don't get people buying it anymore to make a green statement, but you do get people avoiding it because of the stigma it has. Make a hybrid only Corolla as a larger hatch and get the sales back up again.

I think that's why Toyota had those dumb police chase commercials when they released the gen IV. They were trying to appeal to normal people who want decent performance and view fuel economy as a secondary consideration.

If they'd stop making the Prius aesthetics so polarizing, it might appeal to more people. The backend of the gen IV is pretty bad, and I don't think it's going to age well even for those who like it.



The Prime is even worse


Here's why you want a Prius

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

If they'd stop making the Prius aesthetics so polarizing, it might appeal to more people. The backend of the gen IV is pretty bad, and I don't think it's going to age well even for those who like it.

[/IMG]


The President of Toyota delayed the release of the 4th gen Prius because he thought it was too bland. He made the designers go back to the drawing board and spice it up so Akio Toyoda is the reason the Prius looks so stupid. (He is the great grandson of the founder)

That said the Prius had a huge jump in sales for the 4th generation if you look at Japanese sales. It was Japan's best selling car with at 225,066 units, up 44.3 percent from a year earlier.

There seems to be a difference in tastes between the US and Japanese buyer.

[redpoint5]

Car companies are always trying to be cute by making the front or rear end of a vehicle look like a face. They might as well just make an explicit face and be done with it.



BMW's next EV has a pig face despite hardly needing a grill at all (the nostrils are mostly faux grill).

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

a Corolla is a poor substitute for a Prius

Unless the station-wagon makes a comeback. Well, considering the Prius V as some sort of station-wagon, if the Corolla hybrid eventually replaces the Prius, the station-wagon bodystyle still available in Europe, Asia and IIRC also some African countries would eventually match the utility requirements for most Prius owners.