2016 Prius design improvements

[djc]

Toyota finally has a press release on technical and design improvements in the forthcoming 2016 Prius.  Discussion and the full release here:

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/10/13/2016-toyota-prius-tech-improvements/

 

Some highlights:  appears to be many design changes from body to suspension to engine to batteries and to motor / transmission.  Estimated 10% increase in EPA mpg for standard model, more for an "ECO" model (possibly released later, possibly based on Echo like the current Prius C).  Some versions will have LiON batteries.

Seems they replaced planetary gearset transmission with "parallel" gears, claiming reduced friction.  Added  automatic front grill air louvers (like C-max).  Implied handling improvements from lowered center of gravity and improved rear suspension.

Many small engine improvements boost thermal efficiency.  Of interest to those of us in cold climates are claimed improvements to cabin heating sysem by extracting exhaust heat, and more elaborate engine cooling system for a quick engine warmup. And an AWD option using a second electric motor on the rear axle.

Edited October 13, 2015 by djc

[Adrian_L]

And perhaps an end to the "ATM dashboard", in favour of an homage to the glory days of automotive dashboards?

Um........No.  But the new Prius dash seems to have taken some design "inspiration" from the C-max, with its combination of black vinyl and brushed metal accents.

[obob]

Of interest to those of us in cold climates are claimed improvements to cabin heating sysem by extracting exhaust heat, and more elaborate engine cooling system for a quick engine warmup. And an AWD option using a second electric motor on the rear axle.

 

1. Better heating would be great on the C-Max - I like that idea.

2. The AWD version probably will be faster 

3. The AWD version I would think would substantially cut into sales of the small SUVs.

4. My guess is Ford has a small AWD hybrid in the works.

Edited October 14, 2015 by obob

[Adrian_L]

I predict that hardly any Prius owners will choose the (probably expensive) four-wheel drive option. 

[kostby]

There is groundbreaking, bleeding-edge styling, and then there's just plain weird styling, like the ill-named "Bangle-Butt" that now appears to have resurfaced on the Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze. (Christopher Bangle now claims he was only the head of BMW design, and did not actually pen the trunk/rear deck treatment that is attributed to him.)

 

As my wife astutely observed, once you're folded inside, you can't see the what the outside looks like.

 

The strange combinations of angles and curves on the new Prius remind me of a "new" Hyundai SUV I saw about a decade ago (Tucson, maybe?) that I thought must've been sideswiped in the parking lot.

Nope -  Styled that way.

[kostby]

4. My guess is Ford has a small AWD hybrid in the works.

 

They did. It was called the Escape Hybrid, and was sold from 2007-2012.  ;)

[djc]

Clearly AWD Prius sales will depend on cost.  Since robots make the motors, seems it shouldn't be too expensive - and as Obob points out, may well develop more horsepower than FWD version (that would depend on whether battery can deliver more than front motor can take), and so even with a weight-penalty be a bit faster.  This might make it more attractive to power-starved Prius buyers even outside the snow-belt.

 

Styling in pics I have seen looks like uglification to me too, but perhaps better in person / over time. 

 

I have seen pics of Ford Europe's C-max redesign - seemed to be very minor.   Front grille and .... ?

 

Meanwhile Chevy has made many improvements to the the upoming Volt (they held a press event in Calif yesterday with test drives);  it will be a good competitive market next year.

[SnowStorm]

Weird I can sometimes handle but this "uglification" seems pointless (except to get those out-of-work boom box designs employed!).  I would rather they just go totally aero and be done with it.  A Cd less than half this new model would do wonders for highway mileage!

 

The many small technical improvements certainly sounds like the way to go.  I like the heads-up display and AWD option but don't understand the need for two batteries.  Are some markets still scared of Lions?  The change I would pass on is lower height - would rather give up a bit of mileage for higher seats and more headroom.

[Adrian_L]

Design is driven by marketing---there was probably plenty of negative feedback that the original Prius was "bland", "unsexy" or  "utilitarian" or whatever. 

 

I'll reserve judgement until I see the real thing.....

[plus 3 golfer]

For me, design changes in the Prius are way down on the list of "improvements" I want.  It's the comfort / convenience  features, ride quality and performance aspects that turned me away from a Prius (through each generation).  I seriously doubt this "new" Prius will be any different.  

[fbov]

... I would rather they just go totally aero and be done with it.  A Cd less than half this new model would do wonders for highway mileage!...

That won't happen for very good technical reasons.

 

One down side of reduced Cd is increased sensitivity to cross-winds. The wind initially pushes the front of the car off the line of motion. As the car turns, it presents an increasingly large cross-section to the wind, increasing the destabilizing force. It's the reason there's a fin on the back of old race cars, early rockets, and Porsche 911s. 

 

The fix is simple; add a fin in back. The cross-wind will also hit the fin, which will turn the car into the wind, countering the front torque. A more elegant solution is to make the car "clean" in straight-line air but "dirty" in a cross-wind. The increased drag will mostly occur to the rear of the car, acting like a fin.

 

This is why the C-Max seems to have a recessed windshield. Air flowing parallel to the A-pillars is undisturbed by the recess, while air flowing askew the pillar will detach and become turbulent, with associated increase in drag. Another aspect of good engineering... found on nearly all the sleek SUV-shape vehicles.

 

HAve fun,

Frank

[obob]

Without double checking the numbers, I recall the C-Max has a drag coefficient of something like .3

 

The new Prius is about .24

The previous Prius is about .25

 

The origin Honda Insight was also about .25

 

I don't expect drag coefficients are going to get that much better.

 

Here is what .15 looks like 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=volkswagen+1l&safe=off&es_sm=93&biw=1273&bih=843&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIotKxi8DHyAIVj7IeCh3l-g8O

 

I am happy to lose the .05 over a Prius for the better viability and seat position

Edited October 16, 2015 by obob

[raadsel]

Without double checking the numbers, I recall the C-Max has a drag coefficient of something like .3

 

The new Prius is about .24

The previous Prius is about .25

 

The origin Honda Insight was also about .25

 

I don't expect drag coefficients are going to get that much better.

 

Here is what .15 looks like 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=volkswagen+1l&safe=off&es_sm=93&biw=1273&bih=843&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIotKxi8DHyAIVj7IeCh3l-g8O

 

I am happy to lose the .05 over a Prius for the better viability and seat position

 

Tesla Model S, the Mercedes S Class, and the new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid are also .24. The GM EV1 was .195 and the Volkswagen XL1 is .189 -- I think the looks of both show why it would be difficult to get a production car much lower than they are now -- particularly if they are not fully electric.

[C-MaxSea]

To begin with a huge   :hat_tip:  to Toyota (& Ford...) for bringing us into the hybrid realm.  Can't give enough kudos for their combined hybrid innovation. More good stuff here from Toyota !  Thermal efficiency, heat management ..............
 
That said, yes it will 'grow on me';  but for now it looks like a wrinkled mess - no offense - with same old, same old poor entry & headroom ................   we shall see when it reaches the store shelves.  Slippery yes, but too much loss of function & utility in that slipperiness.
 
& as Obob says: "I am happy to lose the .05 (Cd) over a Prius for the better viability and seat position"
 
Nick

Edited October 18, 2015 by C-MaxSea