Comments on: 2009 Toyota Prius Revealed

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:24:35 +0000

Personally I prefer this 2009 Prius to the one that is actually coming out. This version keeps a lot of the styling of the second generation Prius,
while fine-tuning it to produce a more attractive
vehicle. The REAL 2009 Prius has a Yaris front end. And while I do find that more appealing than the current model. I believe it takes the unique look of the Prius away, making it ALMOST (not quite) indistinguishable from the other models in the Toyota line.

By: Doz

Doz — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:25:08 +0000

It certainly looks sexy.. sort of retro Lamborgini with that “flat” front nose

As for the solar panels.. pah!
They might add a few watts (20watts?) to the vehicle accessory circuits to offset the A/C in hot climates.. eg. California.

By: CFL-CTA

CFL-CTA — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:16:48 +0000

Air conditioner lowers a car’s miles per gallon by about 10 %–about 5mpg on a Prius. For a regular user of the AC (and I happen to know it turns on automatically), that will be a 5-mpg increase. How’s that not worth it? I love this idea!

By: info

info — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:07:18 +0000

@ Tech progresses:

When I say I park the car in a shadow I mean NO light, no matter what color. What can be found in a shadow of a parking lot is rather a reflection of the sunlight (all colors of course) no direct sunlight whatsoever. Otherwise it’s not much of a shadow, is it? True, you can get some energy out of reflections (and indeed some PV panels have back side that’s said to pick some reflected light and increase overall efficiency of the panel) but it is rather minuscule and would not justify the expense of having a PV panel on the roof. Direct sunlight - maybe, if you won’t spend more energy cooling the car afterwards. Reflected light - never.

By: Tech progresses

Tech progresses — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:48:39 +0000

Hey, author - Light is a spectrum - not all solar energy has to be derived from “visible” light - New solar films can generate from IR light (found in the shadows of your parking spot).
FYI - Take a look at a magazine or newspaper over the last 100 years in 5 year increments - and you will see that there is a fairly well established trend of “new ideas and products” being developed.

By: Brent

Brent — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:37:36 +0000

I still want to know why I shoudl spend that much on a Prius that looks like Pooh when my Civic S gets Mid 40’s and costs a lot less.

By: Chas

Chas — Sun, 18 May 2008 00:45:48 +0000

Nice, where do I get one, can’t wait. Hope we still have jobs when this thing comes out.

By: eR1c

eR1c — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:45:57 +0000

Oh No, say it ain’t so.

I don’t like the new Prius, it’s way too exciting looking and not at all what a fuel efficient car should look like.

I don’t want a sports car. I want a basic functional car that gets excellent gas mileage.

I even hate that color. I like brown, silver and light gray. Black, red, blue, yellow …all are way too flashy for my likes.

please, Toyota, don’t change the Prius, keep it the same. I don’t take change very well.

By: Dolores

Dolores — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:29:35 +0000

Maybe if you used silicone implants on the roof, some truckers would fill up your gas tank

By: No E Dummy

No E Dummy — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:50:17 +0000

Re: “Pete said”, on 03 Oct 2007 at 10:20 am

“For all you solar skeptics, take a look at thin film solar. It doesn’t use silicone, so it’s vastly cheaper to produce.”

Silicone solar panels? D-oh! That’s SILICON (no “E”), nimrod. Silicone is a rubbery elastomer and insulator, also used in breast implants, while silicon is a crystalline solid metalloid, used as a semi-conductor in transistors, integrated circuits, and solar panels.

By: Brent

Brent — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:13:43 +0000

I purchased a 2005 prius for my business. We were using a full size truck before for most of our job measures and commuting at approx 15mpg. Since we bought the prius we have put about 140,000 miles on it without any mechanical issues, just oil changes and tires. We figure when you add up the fuel savings, tires and maintenance the prius has already more than paid for itself.

If you drive alot of miles why wouldn’t you buy a fuel efficient car. It is essentially free after 3 years of use, and you still have an asset with a decent resale value

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:48:31 +0000

The author is obviously unfamiliar with thin-film solar, which is thin and pliable. A controller for a panel the size of the roof would weigh no more than a car stereo (remember it’s not converting DC-AC, all solar panels are DC which matches nicely with a car’s electrical system) No, the panel won’t give enough power to propel the car, it will simply keep the batteries topped off. (which is good for the batteries,by the way) Anything which reduces the number of charge/discharge cycles will lengthen battery life. I just wish these new car “tech reports” were written by people who actually were technologically knowledgeable.

By: E

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:27:42 +0000

If it is plug in, (which i have heard) then the first 100km’s or so will be run on the battery, and 80MPG is totaly possible. If you were to simply plug your car in every night (like some do in the winter) then most people could do their daily commute without gas at all!
Has anyone heard of any other plug in’s avaliable yet?

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:31:58 +0000

Wish I could get more info on the 2009 Prius. My wife’s ‘05 is a great car, good on road trips and comfortable, holds a lot of stuff. My ‘95 Camry has 188,000 miles on it and I’m nursing it along until the 09 Prius comes out, hopefully with the LiOn extended range battery, whether plugin or not. The web doesn’t seem to have any useful news regarding the 09 Prius and it’s not on Toyota’s website yet. Can anyone point me to anything authoritative? Thanks.

By: info

info — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:33:14 +0000

That is exactly how I felt leaving 2008 Philadelphia Auto Show, thank you Joseph.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:17:23 +0000

I must say I have been very happy with my 2005 Prius. Figured I have saved about $1,800. in gas cost so far. But I just plain love the car and it’s ability to haul stuff about town. Don’t understand what holds people back from jumping into this new efficent technology. Never figured I would have a car getting 50 mpg as I did on a 2,200 mile trip down and up the West coast. Recently attended the local 2008 Auto Show, went out got into my 2005 Prius and told my wife it was the first time I ever left an auto show and was very satisfied with my current vehicle.

By: info

info — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:39:28 +0000

I absolutely agree with you, Phil. I do sometimes feel people look down on my car and think I have to put up with it only because I’m so cheap I don’t buy as much gas as they have to.
But I do like everything about the Prius, I spend A LOT of time in it, took it down to Florida twice now for a two thousand mile round-trip, put 46,000 miles on it in just about a year and not a single time had a problem with it. I like it all the way down to the MP3 player and a second power outlet in the arm rest console.
It is a nice looking well-designed car that would have deserved some loyal following even if it was not for the fuel economy.

By: Phil Bickel

Phil Bickel — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:17:14 +0000

The 2004-2008 Prius is built on the Avensis chasis with a 106 inch midsize wheel base, the Corolla is a smaller car with a 102 inch wheel base.

By: Phil Bickel

Phil Bickel — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:52:14 +0000

I saw where a Hybrid Escape owner said the only thing he liked about his vehicle was the gas mileage.

That is sad. What I like best about my two Priuses, is that they are greeat cars, that just happen to get 50+ miles per gallon.

When the new one that gets 80+ comes out, i will definitely buy one using the great resale value of my current Prius as a downpayment.

What is there not like!

By: glen

glen — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:21:13 +0000

Now that the 2009 Corolla has been revealed, it makes sense that the 2009 Prius will follow. Last generation Corolla/Prius featured the same chasis, so it may again. Also heard about rumors of vehicle being a plug in. That would be great. Expect to see reveal at the Tokyo Auto Show.

By: Jon the Chief

Jon the Chief — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:06:12 +0000

The moron in this case of oxymoron is the the writer who’s knowledge of engineering seem to be set in the stone age.

Variable valve timing seems to have passed him by, variable valve timing gives variable displacement.

Google Atkinson engine and the Toyota development of same, it is not a difficult read.

By: Spy Shot of 2009 Prius - PriusChat Forums

Spy Shot of 2009 Prius - PriusChat Forums — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:59:55 +0000

[...] may look like. 2009 Toyota Prius: Spy Report 2009 Toyota Prius: Spy Report - Popular Mechanics Hybrid Car - More Fun with Less Gas � 2009 Toyota Prius Revealed Last edited by TummyMan : Today at 09:39 [...]

By: Hybrid Car - More Fun with Less Gas » 2008 Prius - what’s new?

Hybrid Car - More Fun with Less Gas » 2008 Prius - what’s new? — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:39:03 +0000

[...] 2008 Prius looks like a continuation of the same great theme but I am saving some money for the 2009 model that promises some arguably radical new [...]

By: Naughtalie

Naughtalie — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:01:53 +0000

The reason that Toyota is trailblazing in the automotive industry is because they are constantly “moving forward”. It’s normal to find that a larger engine means greater fuel economy from year to year in Toyota-land. Several of Toyota’s newest models introduce a larger engine with the same or increased fuel economy as the prior. Look at the newly re-designed Highlander, which is 400-lbs. heavier, 3-inches longer and wider, and has a 3-inch wider wheelbase than its predecessor. The gas model’s engine increased from a 3.3L V6 with an EPA rating of 18/24 to a 3.5L V6 with a (2007) EPA rating of 19/25. (17/23 by the new 2008 standards)
The 2007 Highlander HYBRID featured a 24-valve 3.3L V6 that got better gas mileage(32/27)AND performance than Ford’s 4-cylinder hybrid on a larger body! (Not to mention that the combined torque from the engine & motor allows it to smoke almost any V6 off the line.) This same Hybrid Synergy Drive system will be carried over to the new Highlander Hybrid, which is not yet released.
The “secret” to Toyota’s engines is dual-variable-valve-timing (a technology only found outside of Toyota/Lexus on BMW 7-series and Mercedes 500’s)Their engines “breathe” way more efficiently. That’s how a Tundra can tow 10,800 lbs. and still get 20 MPG highway.

As for the Prius, do not believe any “spy shots” until the actual car is released. If you looked around two months ago, you would have seen lots of “spy shots” of 2008 models that were not even close to what they ended up being like… Rest assured that when Toyota DOES re-design the Prius, it will be faster, safer, cooler, and more fuel effiecient than its big brother… Moving Forward

By: info

info — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:44:22 +0000

Hi Pete,

There is no arguing about the fact that photovoltaic panels will become lighter, more flexible and more affordable. However, I simply don’t see how you can harvest enough energy from the area that’s available on the car’s opaque surfaces to justify added weight, cost, wiring and charging controller.

Actually, I think you will easily use up all the energy you’ve harvested by running AC to cool the car’s interior down to a bearable level after it’s been parked on scorching sun all day.