Confirmed: This is the new 2010 Prius
Posted Oct 16th 2008 12:15PM by Jeremy Korzeniewski
Click for a gallery of the 2010 Prius
It's been confirmed by our friends over at Jalopnik that the pictures you see above and in our gallery are in fact shots of the new 2010 Prius, which is set to debut officially at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Clearly, the new car's overall shape was carried over from the current model that began sales in 2004. It's probably a good idea to keep the profile very similar, considering that the Prius has become such an icon of green motoring and is instantly recognizable. What the Japanese auto giant has done is add new details and a bit more of its current design language to the aerodynamic lines of its older siblings. All we have are low-resolution shots to go on for now, so the real test is still ahead as we first lay our eyes on it in person. More to come.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
scott 12:27PM (10/16/2008)
I can't believe they managed to make it uglier!
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amg 2:24PM (10/16/2008)
I don't agree; I think it looks less goofy than the previous Prius (the bigger tires help).
BUT: I can't believe they made it look like the new Honda Insight!
jonethan 3:31PM (10/16/2008)
Looks like a VAST improvement to me.
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xcrunk 12:30PM (10/16/2008)
How do you explain the two different style headlights?
Do you really think the left and right headlight will be different on the production model? There's no way.
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Brent 12:36PM (10/16/2008)
I still call the pics fake because of the headlights.
paulwesterberg 12:35PM (10/16/2008)
who cares what it looks like.
What is the mpg? How big is the battery pack? Does it have a plug?
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GoodCheer 2:42PM (10/16/2008)
I agree. Let's focus on what's important here people. Driving a pretty car won't help national security or the environment.
PeterG 1:04PM (10/16/2008)
Looks better than the old one, but what really matters is the details. MPG? Performance? Drivetrain changes.
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McHoffa 1:25PM (10/16/2008)
Now we can compare the Prius and Insight. The Insight wins hands down on the interior (but I'd prefer a dark color). I think both look really good from the outside, but I prefer the straight edges over the bubbly look this front end has.
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Campy 1:36PM (10/16/2008)
What the hell happened to this?
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/03/copy-of-hybrid-x_011_tcm317-551665.jpg
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BoneHeadOtto 3:14PM (10/16/2008)
no what the hell happened to this.
http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/50336-2010-prius-information-pictures-car-driver.html
Now thats a prius i would buy
Matt 6:06PM (10/16/2008)
yeah, I like the renderings better... this looks like a step backwards for design
Mike!!ekiM 10:44PM (10/16/2008)
Agreed.
I guess they don't want it to be too good looking, then they'd sell nothing else. That seems to be the trend with hybrids, smart to buy, but, sometimes they hurt the eyes.
rjrjr 2:46PM (10/16/2008)
It used to ugly-cute. This thing is just ugly-ugly.
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Paul Sallmen 3:50PM (10/16/2008)
I agree with the posters about fuel economy. The car looks remarkably similar to the current model. The key is, how much more fuel efficient is it? I'm hoping at least 20-30% better, plus a plug-in option that would make it 50+% more efficient.
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Kevin 4:36PM (10/16/2008)
It still doesn't have a stick shift. I want a 5 speed manual hybrid.
5 speeds are cheaper, lighter, give drivers more control on the road, put more power to the ground, safer, less accidents, easier to control, and more reliable.
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s10 5:42PM (10/16/2008)
-does-not-work-with-hybrid-drivetrain-
slk23 7:01PM (10/16/2008)
s10:
The original Insight had a 5 speed. Granted, it's more difficult to manage the hybrid system and batteries with a manual transmission, but it is possible. In fact, the 5 speed Insight had a lean burn capability, which boosted efficiency, that wasn't in the CVT version.
Chris M 1:32AM (10/17/2008)
I'm sorry, but I must disagree with Kevin. Lets examine his claims:
Cheaper? Hybrids are more expensive than non-hybrids due to the batteries and motors, but the Prius is comparable in price to Honda hybrids using manual transmissions.
Lighter? The hybrid battery adds weight, but the Hybrid Synergy transaxle is comparable in weight to a 5 speed transmission, and has fewer moving parts.
Gives drivers more control on the road, easier to control? I drove a 5 speed manual for over a decade, and automatics, and a Prius. The manual transmission is more responsive than a conventional automatic tramsmission, but both pales in comparison to the instant and continuous response of the Hybrid Synergy Drive. Shifting and clutching a manual is a hassle, especially when you hit the wrong gear or let the clutch out too fast, and handling brakes/clutch/accelerator when stopping on a hill requires 3 feet to prevent rolling backwards. The Prius, on the other hand, never hits the wrong gear and handles hills like a dream. Control is a lot easier without constant clutching and shifting.
Put more power to the ground? With the instant torque of 2 electric drive motors always in the "right gear" and no clutch slip to worry about, the Hybrid Synergy Drive outperforms a manual transmission with an engine of comparable power.
Safer, less accidents? Oh, you've got to be kidding. The constant driver distraction of having to clutch and shift a manual, often at inconvenient times, doesn't help safety at all, and it is extremely difficult to handle clutch/brake/accelerator to prevent rolling backwards and crashing into the car behind you when stopped on a hill!
More reliable? Not in my experience. The Hybrid Synergy Drive has far fewer moving parts than a manual transmisison, no clutch, no torque converter, no gear shifting, and two highly reliable motors. I've had manual transmissions go bad and require extensive rebuilding, but not the Prius.
The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive and other electric drives make conventional transmissions obsolete.
PeterG 4:54PM (10/16/2008)
From what I read in the past. No significant improvement in MPG. No plug in. They are concentrating on improving interior space and performance.
No stick shift here ever. Toyotas HSG doesn't use a CVT that can be replaced by a Manual. It doesn't really use a transmission at all. That is one of the main features of HSG. Just gears and electric motors.
The Insight could have a manual because Honda just adds a electric motor between engine and transmission. But this is unlikely in the USA as most are tool lazy to shift. I suspect Euro Insights will have manual. Maybe Hondas CR-Z might have a manual in the USA.
Again it looks fine to me, certainly an improvement on what they have now.
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