AutoblogGreen

1. I don't know how stripped out the interiors are of Priuses. You get a Prius package with the blue tooth/nav/9 speaker JBL soundsystem and it's not all that radically different than a Lexus in terms of features. Now, finish, that's another story. The Prius is definitely a Toyota and not a Lexus. But I'm not so sure the weight required to bump up the finish is going to make that big a difference, with the exception of wheel size.

Just for reference, here's the "Package 6" option for the Prius:

Package #6 - includes cruise control, heated outside mirrors, 15-in alloy wheels with trim rings, tonneau cover, seatback pockets, Smart Key System [1], backup camera [2], Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) [3], anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® [4] universal transceiver, JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability, satellite radio capability [5] and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® [6] wireless technology, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps, voice-activated DVD navigation system [7], and leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel

Posted at 2:38PM on Feb 26th 2008 by stevejust

2. While I agree that the Prius is not equipped with Lexus-level trim (but it does come close in some departments), your premise seem to completely miss the mark:

1. "itty-bitty" wheels. The stock Prius has 14" wheels and the touring model has 15". That seems perfectly normal for a mid-size car, which is the Prius's EPA size class. The wheels look small in relation to the body shape, but they aren't actually "itty-bitty".

2. Leather Interior. The Prius has been available with a leather interior since 2006.

3. Power Everything. There are several packages available which include things like: Power windows, power locks, keyless entry, keyless start, backup camera, bluetooth, voice command, navigation, heated mirrors, lighted vanity mirrors, MP3 and power in the arm console, steering-wheel controls of most things, HID headlamps, etc. There aren't too many features you can't get from the factory on a Prius (except a sunroof!)

Conclusion: It is possible to put a _bunch_ of features in a car the size/weight of a Prius and get great gas mileage. Proof: It's already being done with the current Prius.

Posted at 2:40PM on Feb 26th 2008 by Bob R.

3. Looks like stevejust beat me to making the same point by 2 minutes. :-)

Posted at 2:41PM on Feb 26th 2008 by Bob R.

4. I think there's room for this. I actually passed on leather in my Prius because the idea of unheated leather is just... cold. I've been thinking about a Lexus version of the Prius for the last few months, and the gap isn't that far off. Start with a loaded Prius, add in all the goodness that the next generation product will no doubt add to the 2004-2008 model, and then add:
1. Heated leather seats. Maybe slightly fancier leather. Minimal weight. Energy consumption for the heat is seasonal and still not that much.
2. Make the plastic interior bits fake wood instead of fake metal.
3. Unique styling so you can justify extra price.
4. A little more sound insulation. Yes, this will add a little weight, but I bet they can do a lot with 20 lb. Prius is very quiet at low speeds but only average-quiet at high speeds.
5. A little more performance. A lot of this can be achieved by using a larger battery. There's room in the price for a more expensive battery in a Lexus version. The added weight penalty can be largely recovered by additional battery capacity for regen and EV type operation. I'm also betting we'll also see direct fuel injection and fancier valve timing on at least the Lexus version; that kind of thing can improve performance AND economy.
6. Smoother ride. I bet this is already in the works for the '09, even in the Toyota version. They need a little more suspension travel (to allow for softer shock and spring rates) and some better quality tires.
7. The door is open/fasten belts/lights are on chime needs to sweetly sing "bong, bong, bong" like a Lexus, not "beep-beep-beep" like a Matrix.
8. The next layer of gadgets that they wanted to put into the Prius anyway can start out in the Lexus version and trickle down to the Prius after a few years. This will probably show more in telematics, navigation, audio, etc.

The engineering behind the Prius is still highly aware of cost-sensitive. They did a good job of not making the cost-cutting too obvious, but they can raise the bar a lot with more money. They *could* also ruin it by turning it into a greenwash hybrid, though. We'll just have to wait to see.

P.S. I have no inside information, this is just a highly educated guess.

Posted at 5:31PM on Feb 26th 2008 by Wes

5. "1. "itty-bitty" wheels. The stock Prius has 14" wheels and the touring model has 15". That seems perfectly normal for a mid-size car, which is the Prius's EPA size class. The wheels look small in relation to the body shape, but they aren't actually "itty-bitty"."

Actually, the stock Prius has 15" wheels and the touring edition has 16" wheels.

The Prius is 175" long --- about the same length as other compacts like the Honda Civic. It has a compact exterior, but because of its hatchback design its interior capacity is around that of a small mid-size car.

Wheel sizes have tended to grow in the past 10 years. 10 years ago 15" wheels were common on cars that were around 185" long. Now, the Prius, which is 10" shorter, has 15" wheels standard, and 16" on the touring edition. And the similarly sized new Matrix has 16" wheels standard, and 17" wheels on the middle and upper line models.

Posted at 1:10PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Tom

6. A Lexus Prius will sell, if the feature content supports the price differential. Just picked up my Prius this week and did a short term lease in anticipation of the Lexus version coming soon. I agree that the package content on the current Prius is impressive but a few other items (definitely heated seats), upgraded leather, sharper styling, more bling overall will work. With gas prices nearing $3.75 / gallon here in So. Cal, I had to wait a month to get the Prius I wanted. Besides, the concept of greater content / sharper style has worked for Lexus before. Witness the Toyota Camry / Lexus ES.

Posted at 7:05PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Mike

7. Well actually stock Prius has 15 inch wheels and touring models have 16 inch, sounds about normal these days. Smaller wheels don't give better economy but do create more interior space.
I'm guessing because there is so much room in a Prius the author assumes it is "stripped out" without really looking.

Posted at 5:51PM on Mar 4th 2008 by PatSparks