Toyota je načrtovala naslednika Priusa že za 2008. Najprej so načrtovali NiMh baterije, nato so zaradi pojava nekaterih obskurnih, a razvpitih el. avtov (npr. Tesla) z LiIon baterijami in predvsem zaradi napovedi MB in GM (ter še kdo), da bodo tudi oni kmalu imeli hibride z LiIon baterijami, razvijali Priusa, ki bi tudi imel LiIon baterije ter zato premaknili izid novega Priusa. Po določenem času so inženirji (morda ekonomisti?) pri Toyoti spoznali, da tehnologija LiIon baterij še ni dorasla njihovim zahtevam (kao iz varnostnih razlogov, čeprav bo MB vsak čas začel z LiIon hibridi) - morda pa je bil tempo doraščanja obrnjen :P - zato so se vrnili nazaj na NiMh baterije in seveda spet odložili izid 3. generacije Priusa. Trenutna prognoza je enkrat v 2009. Da bi obdržali prodajo aktualnega, so sedaj naredili manjši facelift. Spodaj so spy-fotke.
Toyota delays launch of third-generation Prius
Posted Jun 15th 2007 2:49PM by Frank Filipponio
According to Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Toyota is going to postpone the launch of its next generation Prius. Originally planned for fall 2008, the release has been pushed back to spring 2009. This will be the third generation of the popular hybrid-only model, and it was expected that we'd see the first use of lithium-ion batteries in this new model. Toyota, however, has apparently decided to stick with the nickel-metal hydrides, and delayed the launch of the new car until further development could be done on that system. Toyota's battery partner, Matsushita, could be partly to blame here, but officially Toyota says there is no delay. They maintain that the launch date was never announced and that when they feel everything is in place, the new car will appear. With or without the li-ions. The Prius is by far the best selling and most widely known hybrid on the market. Toyota sold 186,000 of them last year, and 313,000 hybrids overall.
[Source: Automotive News]
Najprej pa aktualni
zamisel bodočega
spy-fotke facelifta
Sprememb ni dosti, predvsem spredaj bo povzel trenutne Toyotine oblikovne smernice (Auris, Yaris...).
Še zanimivost - ko Prius vozi samo na elektriko, že pri 80 % kapacitete akumulatorja preklopi tudi na b. motor, predvsem zaradi ohranjanja/zdržljivosti akumulatorja - porabi torej samo 20 % možne elektrike. Bolj ko se aku izprazni, krajšo življensko dobo ima - to je en izmed problemov, s katerimi se spopadajo snovalci el. avtov.
