Next Gen Toyota Prius Spotted

[mazeroni]

You all call it silly...

There are a few videos on Youtube showing people camping out of their Prius in a variety of conditions.

I think the ability to load up something like a mini-fridge or electric grill to take it with you to a park or when on road trips, without needing a generator or external power bank is nifty.

[soundman98]

it just all seems so familiar. if only i could place where i've seen the idea before...

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by soundman98

it just all seems so familiar. if only i could place where i've seen the idea before...

No one thinks of the Aztec being the pioneering car for these tent attachments (it even had a removable center console that doubled as a cooling box)
The Aztek wasn't the "cool" car it needed to be until Walter White got involved.

[soundman98]

the aztek was a pioneering vehicle of the cuv craze. good, or bad.

now most brands make a 4-door hatchback like it, just without so much ugliness.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

No one thinks of the Aztec being the pioneering car for these tent attachments (it even had a removable center console that doubled as a cooling box)
The Aztek wasn't the "cool" car it needed to be until Walter White got involved.

Meh

[Irace86.2.0]

[Irace86.2.0]

50 miles of EV range is pretty decent. Could be completely EV for most buyers with the ability to travel far with refueling when the time comes, and of course, it eliminates range anxiety.

I agree with Toyota that plug-in hybrids will likely be around for a while for many people until the infrastructure exists to support EVs, which are just more efficient because they don't have to lug around dual powertrains.

[pope]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

. . .
I agree with Toyota that plug-in hybrids will likely be around for a while for many people until the infrastructure exists to support EVs, which are just more efficient because they don't have to lug around dual powertrains.

Not sure I agree with this part of your statement. All existing (and remotely near commercialization) battery technologies are no lighter than the second powertrain to achieve the same range. Pure EVs simply have a better eMPG because grid (or home) power generation, storage, and conversion to work is more efficient using electricity than burning fuel and wasting 65%+ out the tail pipe.

It’s not really lugging the combustion engine around that hurts efficiency, it’s using it that does.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by pope

Not sure I agree with this part of your statement. All existing (and remotely near commercialization) battery technologies are no lighter than the second powertrain to achieve the same range. Pure EVs simply have a better eMPG because grid (or home) power generation, storage, and conversion to work is more efficient using electricity than burning fuel and wasting 65%+ out the tail pipe.

It’s not really lugging the combustion engine around that hurts efficiency, it’s using it that does.

Sorry, yes, that was confusing on my part. I was thinking of something in my mind, but I didn't convey it in the right way. You are 100% correct to make that point. Let me try again...

What I was asking myself was why wouldn't it be best if all vehicles were plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)? If all vehicles were small battery PHEVs then that would be great because the average person would be fine charging their EV and driving it the 30-40 miles per day, and they wouldn't have range anxiety and could always guarantee to make it to a charger/home, and we would need to mine much less batteries. The PHEVs could be like the BMW i3 REx with a range extender designed to just get someone home, or it could be for the rare long trip. This is the ideal situation for the vast majority of people until the infrastructure is in place for fast charging and battery/car swapping. The question is why wouldn't we continue to have these PHEVs? Well, if we had all the infrastructure then the only reason to have a big battery is for performance or for the convenience of not having to charge so often on road trips, so in that case, the standard BMW i3 would be fine over the REx, which is just more efficient because they just don't have to lug around dual powertrains. The emissions are more because gasoline and the second powertrain increases end-of-life emissions, but the BMW i3 REx is 264lbs heavier than the i3 because it has a motor, fuel tank, fuel lines, etc., so even if someone never used the "just in case, rainy day" powertrain, and we didn't include that powertrain's end-of-life emissions, a PHEV is still going to be worse than a BEV because the car is carrying the extra weight of a second powertrain. Even if a PHEV increased its battery only range, a BEV version would be better, given the infrastructure to support its range.

Hopefully that clarified my thoughts. I'm guilting of assuming people can read my mind to understand my cryptic and confusing statements.

[Irace86.2.0]

[Dake]

Those [totally fictional] modded Prius really drive home the idea that to me - a 2 door version could be a pretty convincing Celica. The front end treatment and roof line are very reminiscent of the progression between the 3rd, 4th and 5th gen lift-back Celicas.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Dake

Those [totally fictional] modded Prius really drive home the idea that to me - a 2 door version could be a pretty convincing Celica. The front end treatment and roof line are very reminiscent of the progression between the 3rd, 4th and 5th gen lift-back Celicas.

Yeah, that, and I'm sure if this kit existed, people might not have a problem covering the rear door with the wide body fender and just doing a rear seat delete with some subs and a cage.

[mn_ca]

Originally Posted by Dake

Those [totally fictional] modded Prius really drive home the idea that to me - a 2 door version could be a pretty convincing Celica. The front end treatment and roof line are very reminiscent of the progression between the 3rd, 4th and 5th gen lift-back Celicas.

Ive been telling everyone its a 5th gen Celica lol. When I first seen it, the smooth lines reminded me of the 5th gen Celica.

[Dake]

Yeah - lose the back doors, move the B-pillar back and make the front door bigger (keep the back seats), and maybe shorten the wheelbase a tad? All I know is I'd totally buy one - I'm eagerly awaiting someone giving me a relatively affordable, lightly-sporty, EV coupe. If it just has 200 miles of useable range, I'm golden. And really it's perfect, the world "cell" is right there. Heck, they could call it the CelEca and embrace the UK pronunciation of "Cell-ee-ka".