Toyota Prius Hybrid Named Motor Trend's Car Of The Year

[hatrack]

Motor Trend magazine, the world's #1 automotive authority and part of the PRIMEDIA Consumer Automotive Group, today announced the selection of the Toyota Prius as the 2004 Car of the Year. Now in its 55th year, the title of Motor Trend Car of the Year is the most coveted and most recognized award in the automotive industry.

"We realize the selection of a hybrid vehicle is going to stir controversy, but we believe the performance, engineering advancements, and overall significance of the Toyota Prius merits the distinction of Motor Trend's Car of the Year," said Kevin Smith, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. "The Prius is a capable, comfortable, fun-to-drive car that just happens to get spectacular fuel economy. It also provides a promising look at a future where extreme fuel-efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and exceptional performance will happily coexist. That makes it meaningful to a wide range of car buyers."

After weeks of exhaustive testing, Motor Trend editors found the Toyota Prius to be a user-friendly gas/electric hybrid capable of delivering an impressive 60 miles per gallon in city driving. It is the first of such vehicles to move into the automotive mainstream, with performance, style and quality. Spacious enough to be classified as a midsize sedan, the Prius' futuristic bodywork, innovative Hybrid Synergy Drive, pleasing interior and five-door hatchback design, clearly placed it above the competition."

EDIT

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_031120_coy/

[RobertSeattle]

1. Outstanding!

Eat my Voltage!

[denverbill]

2. Lordy, that car is ugly.

But I still may want one. Kudoes to Toyota!

[boilerbabe]

26. That's why I thought they wer e going to make a convertible!!

Tell me it's so!!

[kysrsoze]

37. Maybe if you put 20" spinners on it, it will look cool?

He he.

[minkyboodle]

44. drop it down some

zorak style... bu-bu baaaby!!!
Scott
Nice Avator Zorak is one bad bug

[Catch22Dem]

3. Excellent

You know, the last big economic boom was partly fuled by the computer technology market. Computers, ISPs, Networking tools, etc...

I've always said, I think the next big market boom is going to be "fuled" by alternative energy.

[Kolesar]

4. Note that my jaw dropped

I always thought that they and Road & Track were hopeless "energy crisis deniers".

[fortyfeetunder]

5. Now will the big Three get a clue?

the Big Three haven't gotten off their collective asses to come up with a viable line of hybrids, and the technology has been there. I hope Toyota cleans house with this one....

[Wells]

8. Big 3 oppose hybrids....

..because hybrids are much more stable, thus safer and longer lasting. What the Big 3 and their Motor Trend cronies have always wanted is dangerous vehicles that 'crash' and otherwise wear out more reliably; and of course, that all people have no choice but to drive any kind of car for all purposes, all the time.

Hybrid technology is applicable to all range of vehicles, subcompact to mack truck; improving mileage, reducing emissions, increasing safety features in all.

Why is GM being subsidized billions to develop hydrogen fuel cell cars, when hybrids will always be technically far superior?

Check out GM's prototypes AUTOnomy and Hywire, supposedly the future car, hydrogen powered, with computer-controlled 'hands off' driving. Imagine 'Minority Report' freeway motoring and a dash guage suddenly pegs to the left indicating a sudden loss of electric control: no steering, no brakes. Oh yeah. Everybody wants that car, NOT.

[kysrsoze]

36. Well, refrigerators are electric and they break down all the time

Hell, whatever the Big 3 builds is bound to break down frequently and eventually die on you. They should go ahead and build it.

[NNadir]

6. I'm not familiar with motor trend. Do they give the runners up?

If so where did Honda's Civic Hybrid place? I like that car as well, because Hondas are generally more reliable.

[NNadir]

7. Where did the Honda Civic hybrid place?

Does Motor trend discuss the other cars placement?

I like Hondas. I think they're more reliable.

The mileage on the Prius is much higher though, almost matching the two seat Honda Insight. I'll definitely consider one for my next car.

[NJCher]

9. recent promo tour at WholeFoods

I recently did a test drive on the Prius and if I had 20Gs to spend on a car, I would buy one in a heartbeat, ugly or not. Personally, I don't think it's that bad looking. Not great but one might learn to love it. Toyota had a promotional tour which included taking their cars to the WholeFoods grocery store parking lots. Using the incentive of "We'll buy you lunch" for a test drive, they had plenty of people willing to take a drive. Then they gave a gift certificate good for $15 at WholeFoods. While I didn't do the drive myself, I went as a passenger just to see what it was like. I was impressed with the quiet and the fact that they get something like 55 mpg.


Cher

[hatrack]

10. Sure, version 1.0 is chunky and clunky-looking

It even has that old VW Beetle-esque snout. The new one's substantially better from a styling point of view.

However, my Dad had a really good point about how cars look - "You can't see it while you're driving it."

[Bamboo]

11. And Then There's Maude.

At http://www.mapquest.com it shows at top of the page how much money would be saved if every mapquest user drove a Prius.Saying SUV owners have small peckers lets women off the hook.I see SUVs with Florida manatee or panther affinity tags and wonder if that is the allowable amount of environmentalism.Fur coats were seen as symbols of patriarchal dominance and control,I wonder if fur was offered in an SUV how it would sell.

[boilerbabe]

27. 'what if I was a fur-coated hooker that let the Florida guys

drive my SUV?? oops I lost the context of that one...!!

[BrokenSegue]

12. Hybrids

In 10 years every car will be a hybrid. Right now hybrid have some problems but they are a winning technology. If it helps the enviroment and saves money it can't be bad. The only problem with hybrids now are their cost and uglyness. Both of whihc will be worked out soon enough.

[JohnLocke]

13. Indeed.

As time goes on, hybrids will become much more popular and effective. Prices will go down, as design options go up.

[yo-yo-ma]

14. got one in november

first new car we'd ever bought. it's wonderful
they haven't made enough for the demand though - a two month waiting list in LA.

[hatrack]

15. Two months? Lucky devil!

I'm in a Prius newsgroup, and I've heard quotes of up to seven months to get the new version - which, I assume, is the one you have.

[NNadir]

16. Wait'll gas hits $3.00-$4.00/a gallon.

Another reason higher gas prices are desirable.

[boilerbabe]

25. Have you been in Europe lately?

Gas there is like 1.40/liter...well it was about 2 yrs ago anyway...and here in Ct they are tryign to use gas tax to make up for the lack of Federal funding for the no child left behind, yadyadya////my property taxes have gone up, cigs, alcohol, etc...I'm not amused...I didn't have any kids, but it's all down to Bush and his tax cuts, think you got a tax cut last year?? it's gonna bite you in the other end....

[Kolesar]

17. Have you been satisfied with the "city mileage"?

I have read on other listserves that users are not getting what the EPA tests predicted. Their best hypothesis is that the EPA test is a series of intervals of different speeds that really do not reproduce modern driving habits very accurately. There is also the theme that "everybody's fuel economy always decreases in the winter".

[hatrack]

18. I know I'm not the person you asked but . . .

I've been getting pretty close to the EPA numbers (maybe 5-10% under) for 2.5 years. Of course, I'm also a real feather-foot driver, and I consciously try to ease it into electric-only mode whenever possible.

It can be done, but it takes a little effort!

[yo-yo-ma]

19. yes but

it hasn't been really close to 70mph. It's been more like 48-58. As much as I try for the feather foot technique, LA traffic can be quite stop and go at times . . . We have only taken it on one real freeway driving trip - there it was like 60 mph.
It is also the low emissions that make this vehicle great. When you are stopped, for example, the gas engine turns off - there is no idling exhaust. Feels good to drive.

[jmcgowanjm]

20. the toyota SUV hybrid comes out in August

Their RAV is everything I thought it would be:

27 mpg at 75 mph

[yo-yo-ma]

21. that makes hybrids sound like a marketing gimmick

I mean I don't know what a SUV normally gets - but my old junker Taurus got better mileage than that.

[Kolesar]

22. Yes, my 1989 Chevy Celebrity got 29mpg highway

It is going to take a lot of doing to convince Americans that SUVs are bogus. A summer of high gasoline costs ought to do it. The dollar is still weak from last year and oil is > $25/barrel, I have heard.

[NNadir]

23. My ancient Civic gets 33.

and I love that car, but I lust after a Prius or a hybrid Civic.

The Prius is one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen.

The best and most fun form of transportation however absolutely has to be a bicycle: Still the greatest after a century.

[jmcgowanjm]

30. OK, lets get precise. I drive at 78 mph and get 27mph

I'm being conservative here.

Their is no way that a Taurus does this well.

[Tesha]

35. Presumably, he's talking about the RAV-4, which *ISN'T* a hybrid.

The RAV-4 is a "CUV" (Combination Utility Vehicle), a
car-derived vehicle dressed up like an SUV.

The hybrid will be a variation on the current Lexus
RX-300.

[kysrsoze]

38. I believe that's the city rating and you have to remember....

It's an RX400/Highlander with a hybrid V6 that has the power of a V8.

[boilerbabe]

28. I am waiting for their convertible,l heard it was coming!!

I will hold out for a hybrid....

[RoadRunner]

33. I ordered mine last month

they said 5 month wait. My brother in Texas ordered one in November, they told him the wait was one year. When I got my 2001 Prius, they said the wait was 4 months, and I got it in 3. Go figure.

[theHandpuppet]

32. Questions for you...

Since you already own a hybrid, I have a couple of questions for you...

How does the hybrid perform in highway driving, ie, speed and acceleration? Does one have to worry about getting creamed when trying to enter the freeway via an acceleration lane?

Does it have enough power to climb mountain roads? I live in WV and some of the roads here, even the WV turnpike, are pretty steep.

Thanks for any info you can provide! :)

[RoadRunner]

34. It has great acceleration.

There's an onboard 4-cylinder engine that takes over when you hit the gas. Other times, the engine just mostly idles supplying electricity to the motor.

[boilerbabe]

24. I am waiting for the Toyota Hybrid Convertible!!

My friends at work tell me that the hybrid is too expensive, etc...but I am hell bent on getting a prius convertible, and I will sit here and wait until I get one.

[yo-yo-ma]

29. the only thing missing on a prius is a sunroof

but to think of a convertible . . .

[Kolesar]

31. Can you car-top a kayak, a canoe, or a bicycle?

There is a Prius 2 in the parking lot and it just screams "aerodynamic". It is sloped, has a wind deflector, small wheel openings, and even boat tail treatments behind each rear wheel for aerodynamics (way cool!). Alas, the motorcar is a bit small for vacationing with a passenger and my toys. Does the owner's manual say you can cartop boats or even pull a trailer (dream on)?

I am sure the vehicle would lose it's low aerodynamic coefficient and consume more, but would the prime mover be able to deal with the added work load of roof racks and cargo? An underpowered automobile might "peak out" and not be able to drive fast due to the windload. Ultimately, it may be bad for the automobile to be worked so hard on a road trip.

[RoadRunner]

39. Another advantage of the Prius, at least for now

is that they have a very high re-sale value. I have a 2001 Prius that I will be replacing soon with a 2004. I have found that the going price is quite a bit higher than the "blue book" price. They're even bringing high prices on eBay.

This is probably due to the current high prices for gasoline coupled with the long wait times for a new Prius. But there's another reason: the Prius engine should last many times longer than the engine in a traditional car. The Prius engine mostly just idles, supplying electricity to the motor. It should last for many years.

[Atlant]

40. That isn't true.

> The Prius engine mostly just idles, supplying electricity
> to the motor. It should last for many years.

That isn't true. On average, the Prius engine works (using the
physics-professor definition of "work") just as hard as *ANY*
engine that you might put into that very-aerodynamic Prius body.

The difference with the hybrid system is that the engine
tends to run at the operating point that yields maximum
efficiency.

But I think there's no data yet as to whether that translates
into increased engine life, and anyone who tells you otherwise
is trying to blow smoke (or at least, CO₂ and water vapor,
with traces of hydrocarbons and CO) into your eyes. Plus the
hybrid drive, as a whole, is far more complex than a typical
mecanical drive and more components usually means less reliability.
At a minimum, you can be *SURE* That someone will be replacing
that rather-expensive battery pack in 8-10 years or so.

Buy a hybrid, but don't buy it for increased reliability *OR*
longevity.

Atlant

[Wells]

41. "It's true"

It stands to reason that an engine running at constant speeds, (low and high idle), works less than the standard, mechanical-drive configuration of constant acceleration/decelleration through the gears, under varying fuel/air ratios. Thus, the Hybrid engine life can be expected to be greater than in a standard-drive vehicle.

Hybrids can run on batteries at all times. Thus, should gasoline, for whatever reason, become unavailable or exceedingly expensive, their batteries, (expanded battery packs), can be recharged via the grid, their MPG increase, though with limited range. Just another reason among many that Hybrids are superior to Hydrogen fuel cell technology, nevermind Governor Schwartzpecker schpittle.

[Atlant]

42. No, sorry.

The hybrid engine doesn't "idle". It's far more accurate to
think of it as running at full power or being fully "off".
As I stated, reliability is an open issue right now. See
this month's Consumer Reports; they basically
say what I am saying: Toyotas, in general, are very
reliable but there simply isn't enough data to make
any determination at this time on the eventual reliability
of the hybrid system.

Also, hybrids, as presently shipped, can only run "on batteries"
for the briefest period and below a certain speed. Google
for "stealth mode" on the Prius and you'll find all the
constraints. (The new Prius has expanded "stealth mode"
capabilities.) There is *NO* capacity in the Prius for
recharging from the wall socket and driving the car
as a pure electric vehicle and the owner's manual
for the first-generation Prius *SPECIFICALLY* warned
against any operation in full-EV mode-with-a-disabled
gas-engine as deep-cycling of the battery would seriously
degrade the battery's life.

As I say, feel free to buy a hybrid (I will for my next
car), but don't go into it with your head in the clouds.

Atlant

[Wells]

51. Yes, not sorry.

Atlant, Hybrid engines run at low idle and 'optimal' high idle; NOT "off" and "Full Power". Hybrids do not vary their fuel/air mixtures as radically, nor as repetitively as a standard engine/transmission drive system. Thus, they should have a longer useful life.

Hybrid technology does allow for battery operation; nevermind that the Prius model is limited. Hybrids employ an integrated chemical battery pack which can be expanded; improving vehicle handling by lowering the center of gravity, and allowing for complete battery operation and recharging off the grid.

The Prius is only one model. The Hybrid technology is versatile, flexible, and has more applicability (subcompact to Mack truck), and more technological diversity, (IC engine + batteries + fuel cell), than hydrogen fuel cell alone.

[salin]

52. well - it does go "off"

when stopped at a light - it often shuts off... Not always (esp in colder weather), but often.

[Kolesar]

45. That sounds like one of the "pluggable hybrids" I read about

It was in a recent issue of IEEE Spectrum. These cars operate as electric vehicle, except when you start traveling out of recharge-range, then they use the IC engine. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced tremendously, ~75% less than conventional IC engines and half of what hybrids emit (don't quote me on the numbers).

*IC = internal combustion

[Atlant]

46. Greenhouse emissions are only reduced if the electricity is nuclear.

Greenhouse emissions are only reduced if the electricity to recharge
the car is nuclear-, hydro-, or wind-generated.

If the electricity to recharge the car is made by conventional
coal, oil, gas, or wood-fired plnts, then the green-house gas
emission s merely "relocated" from the IC engine to the power
plant. It's doubtful that the power plant and its distribution
systems are a lot more thermally efficient than the hybrid's
IC engine.

Atlant

[Kolesar]

48. That's not what the article I read said

The IEEE article would have said that GHG emissions are "reduced 100%" if the pluggable hybrid vehicles were charged from nuclear (or wind, hydro, or PV)

[Atlant]

50. Isn't that what I just said?

But here in America, most of our electricity comes from
burning fossil fuels.

Atlant

[AngryAmish]

49. A pedantic point

Many places have hydro power - no hydrocarbons. Also solar in a very small area. But your larger point is true.

[RoadRunner]

43. I think we're talking about two different things.

You say that the Prius engine works as hard as "ANY" engine you put in the Prius. My point was that the engine operates at lower RPMs than the same engine would in a non-hybrid system. If it did not, then the Prius would get less gas mileage than a non-hybrid. It is also supplying electricity to the motor and to charge the batteries. Also, some of the electricity to charge the batteries is independent of the engine, it comes from regenerative braking. Every time you coast or brake, the engine shuts down completely. When it's on, it's mostly humming along in its "sweet spot" - 1400 to 1700 RPMs or so. That's a fast idle. The only time the engine is stressed is when passing or going up a hill.

You are quite correct that longevity of the engine is not the major selling points of this car, but it's a nice plus.

[Atlant]

47. And that's the fact that I think people mis-understand.

> My point was that the engine operates at lower RPMs than the
> same engine would in a non-hybrid system.

And that's the fact that I think people misunderstand.

Imagine, if you will, the graph of the engine's efficiency versus
its load. You seem to believe that the efficiency of the engine
peaks at the lowest RPMs, but this is absolutely not so. Its
efficiency peaks somewhere a lot closer to full load. And so
the Prius power-flow management software manages to keep the
engine near that point or shut down.

Here's another important hint: On the highway, moving at a steady
highway speed, the IC engine is powering the car through the
mechanical IC-to-wheels-via-CVT power path. In this mode, there's
essentially no difference in efficiency between a normal CVT-
equipped car and the Prius. Essentially all the energy is going
to overcome wind resistance and mechanical and rolling friction.

The place the Prius clearly wins is "around town, but longer than
5 miles per trip". Around town, because you really get to take
advantage of the hybrid drive including regenerative breaking
and engine-shut-down periods. Longer than 5 miles because it
takes about that far to warm up the engine and top off the
battery, and the car operates in a different power-management
discipline before those two events have taken place.

Also, here in New England winters, the IC engine has to run
more just to create enough waste heat to heat the passenger
compartment. And during hot summers anywhere, the IC engine
has to run enough to cool the passenger compartment (although
the new electric air conditioning in the second-generation
Prius at least means the engine doesn't idle continually
while the AC is switched-on; now, it can cycle on and off
as necessary to maintain main battery power to run the AC).

Atlant