2015 Gen Iv Prius -Wish List

[Duffryn]

I'd imagine fuelling it on elderberry wine would add a tad to the running costs - unless one manufactured it in humongous quantities of course. Elderberry bushes won't know what's hit'em :)!

Seriously though, I think the next generation has got to offer better value (quality-wise & toys-wise) for the money I expect they'll be asking for it. For me personally it's not all about high MPG, as welcome as that is..

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I hope Toyota will surprise us all again like they did with the gen3. Though I wonder if they've gone all scaredy cat since the recall business a few years ago?

[APS]

I hope Toyota will surprise us all again like they did with the gen3. Though I wonder if they've gone all scaredy cat since the recall business a few years ago?

I don't think they've gone scared. They just have a much more open and well reheubikd process for dealing with recalls now compared to four years ago.

I'm excited about new models from Toyota as I think they've never had the same urge as now to shake off the worthy-but-dull image.

Sent from my iPhone

[APS]

That strange word in post above is meant to say "reheubikd"

Sent from my iPhone

[APS]

Reheubikd

Sent from my iPhone

[APS]

Apologies everyone but it seems I've stumbled across an oddity in the TOC app for iOS.

When I write R-E-H-E-A-R-S-E-D the app changes it when it's posted. It's not changed by the spellchecker.

Sent from my iPhone

[kithmo]

...The plug-in should have ... and one HV battery instead of two separate systems for EV and HV...

The plug-in does have one Battery, it's just managed such that it gives the impression they are separate. I guess that's to enable the plug-in range to be preserved, so that you can run on electric at your destination, for example. If I had one, on a longer journey I'd save it for traffic jams, and use it up when I'm nearer the destination if I hadn't already.

Doh ! I was under the impression that the HV Battery was same as the normal Prius and the EV Battery was a Lithium affair stuck behind the normal one , hence no room for a spare wheel, how wrong was I

[Grumpy Cabbie]

You're half wrong. The test mule plug in that they used in London back in 2010 worked like you suggest and rumour has it that the production model was going to be like that too, but opinion was that it would be nicer to be able to have the one HV Battery.

[Duffryn]

Reminded by Kithmo referring to spare wheel in above post - a 'proper' spare for 2015 please, or, at worst a 'space-saver'. None of this tube of gunge stuff thanks.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Reminded by Kithmo referring to spare wheel in above post - a 'proper' spare for 2015 please, or, at worst a 'space-saver'. None of this tube of gunge stuff thanks.

I'm with you on that. The Mrs's IQ has a tin of gunk. You're better carrying a pump, pumping up a slow puncture and driving slowly to the tyre garage. That gunk just ruins your tyres and doesn't work on large holes (like a pump wouldn't).

A space saver is horrid but at least it would get you home after a blow out. Not everyone lives in or will be in a populated area with a profusion of AA vans when they have a ruined tyre.

[APS]

Never one for saying something brief...

The auto industry is against us on carrying spare wheels and it's easy to see why. It's an incredibly easy way to lose 15-20kg of the car's weight without really having to re-engineer anything. I'm sure this is further enforced by market research which shows that a high percentage of drivers have some form of roadside assistance, rarely venture out beyond 20 miles of a built-up area. And many probably would not know how to or want to change a spare wheel. So why do all these people lug around a big lump of steel and rubber when it is so incredibly rarely used?

For the rest of us though - you only need to be left stranded once to appreciate having a spare wheel.

The repair gunk only repair smaller leaks and renders any tyre irreparable once used. You are forced to buy a new tyre regardless. With a spare you can keep going with stress level restored to normal and you will be home in time for tea.

I my opinion a space saver is an acceptable compromise. Luckily Toyota seems to strike a good balance by keeping the spare wheel well in many of its models so you can buy a spare wheel if you are one of those "belts-and-braces" types. Several other manufacturers (like Honda) has completely dropped any provision for a spare.

The Prius is a global model sold in the US and other markets where having a spare is the norm or even compulsory(?). This means the new Prius is likely to retain a spare wheel well - at least for a space saver. Fingers crossed...

[Opifex]

What I would like to add

- a turbo (power when you need it, economy when you don't)

- folding mirrors

- fully electric seats with memory

- mirrors linked to the seat memory

- front and rear proximity sensors

- reversing camera as standard

- tactile buttons (so that I can find the Power/Eco/EV without having to look down)

Improve

- sat nav so that it doesn't take you round three side of a square. (my 2010 does this quite often)

- sat nav that can be updated at reasonable cost.

Keep

- Space-saver spare wheel (essential as half my mileage is on French motorways and tyre-wreck would mean a very expensive and time-consuming recovery)

- HUD showing speed, Ecometer and turn indicator as on 2010 Prius

- markers on reversing screen linked to steering position as on 2010 Prius

Avoid

- increased size

Get rid of

- the P button (incorporate it into the gear lever as in the Yaris)

- the ergonomic disasters of steering column stalks (that I'm certain had the same designer as the Bop-It)

- the high price

- the large blind spot caused by the wide pillars either side of the windscreen

- the auto-parking gimmick that I've never got to work

[APS]

What I would like to add

- a turbo (power when you need it, economy when you don't)

- folding mirrors

- fully electric seats with memory

- mirrors linked to the seat memory

- front and rear proximity sensors

- reversing camera as standard

- tactile buttons (so that I can find the Power/Eco/EV without having to look down)

Folding mirrors & reversing camera is standard on Prius. At least in the UK.

I like linking seat memory to mirrors.

[Chris Dance]

No spare wheel or space for it on the current plug in Prius. I mentioned before that a friend has just bought a new Yaris. Salesman said ALL new Toyota models will not have spare wheels. My mates new Yaris has no spare wheel but he has had to purchase a "skinny" spare for it as an extra. In view of this it looks like the Prius Gen 4 will have no spare wheel or space for it. I just hope Toyota do something about this stupid spare wheel policy.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Why would they? They're saving £90 a time doing so.

It needs a change in law to insist on a space imho.

[geo13647]

Careful on wishing for lots of new experimental tech.

Just look what happened to the new Auris. (And that was a pretty basic refresh)

It took mr T nearly 6 months to even acknowledge any issues

& another 6 to actually do something about it.

A 12 month uncertainty period on any new car, especially the iconic Prius,

Will effectively kill the brand, of course, with all the other new HSD models,

Maybe that's exactly what they intend to do.

G...

Sent from my iPad using Toyota OC

[RK123456]

Do away with the floor mounted parking brake and replace it with either an Avensis style dash mounted push button or a conventional handbrake.

Give it more grunt, the prius plug in (same engine?) I test drove 15 months ago felt woefully underpowered.

Dare I say this: Replace the automatic transmission with a manual gearbox. I have a dislike / fear of driving automatics. (When I test drove the Prius Plug In, it was one of the most stressful driving experience I have had, I am even considering having one or two driving lessons in an automatic before my company car is due for renewal in 2017 to see if I can overcome this dislike / fear, and give the Prius or other low company car tax vehicle a fair trial.)

[APS]

I hear you. I do like old fashioned hand brakes too. I mainly miss the hand operated parking brake because I can't do hand brake turns. However, the Prius is not the kind of car to do such things with. The other reason would be to make hill starts easier. But with the built in hill start assist there's no need for that either. Foot operated parking brake is great and you get used to it quickly. I would advise to stay away from electric parking brakes as they are over engineered and prone to fail earlier than a simpler manual ditto.

They will not make a manual version of the hybrid. The ingenuity of HSD is built around the two sets of planetary gears that it comprises of. This is brilliantly simple and contributes greatly to the reliability and seamless operation of the system. Eventually the Prius (if it prevails) will probably be all electric, in which case chances are there will be only one gear. Gearboxes with multiple gear ratios only exists because of engines with narrow power bands - such as combustion engines.

Sent from my iPhone

[APS]

You say; more grunt. I say; yes please!

Hopefully we will see this through larger capacity batteries and more powerful electric motors.

Sent from my iPhone

[Grumpy Cabbie]

The existing electric motor has enough power. The inverter and Battery are the weak spots. Since the latest recall (because inverters are burning out left right and center at a certain mileage) the power has been reduced a little - esp so in Power mode, so as to lessen the impact on the inverter.

Engineer the inverter to the same standard as the older gen2, give the Prius a more powerful Battery to enable it to be utilised more and increase power to 150 bhp. Hopefully get the same or better economy, be quicker and last longer.

Saying all this, remember the Prius is designed mainly for the Japanese and American market. They're hardly going to take note of what UK owners want who only make about 3k sales a year.

Actually I've just had a horrible thought. Don't 'tune' the Prius for European roads. All manufacturers have that fixation and all that will happen is that it'll have dark interior, heavy steering, a manual handbrake and harder suspension. Save their time and just put a hybrid in the Avensis.

[APS]

Thanks Grumpy for your very sensible comments.

Looks like there are significant electrical losses in the controller as well. Toyota are right on cue with this press release on how they are addressing the problem...

http://media.toyota.co.uk/2014/05/toyota-targets-10-per-cent-improvement-hybrid-vehicle-fuel-efficiency-new-semiconductor-technology/

Will this make it in time for the next Prius? Maybe but I wouldn't bet on it.

Agree, an HSD Avensis would possibly be more appealing to the European market.

Sent from my iPhone