The Prius - A Potential Gold Mine

"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform) 03/08/2015 at 13:05 • Filed to: prius, toyota

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The infamous Prius, hated among many for its "rice cake" styling and obnoxious drivers. Despite this, it's become one of the best-selling cars in California. Why? It's a smart choice for people who don't care . The people who do care, however, loathe the hatchback. Why?

The Prius represents everything Toyota is not. It represents what Toyota has become: a corporation playing it safe by providing the public with reliable appliances, rather than screaming sports cars and AWD homologated rally cars. This is why we choose to hate the Prius. Right?

Wrong. Well, somewhat. But still. Toyota gave us the Prius V (Versatility) , and the Prius C (Compact) , along with the normal Prius. What they need to give us, is something like...

Prius S (Sport) .

(Pictured: Tommy Kaira Toyota Prius)

Toyota has a history of giving some of their models the XRS badge, specifically the Corolla and the Matrix. XRS meant that the car yielded the 1.8 2ZZ-GE, which was born in the Celica, and eventually found its way into the Elise, albeit supercharged. The point is, XRS was a good thing for Toyota, and did a great thing for the cars that wore that badge.

So now you're thinking that I'm going to suggest a Prius XRS and move on with my life. I'm not. No, the 2ZZ-GE, while a great engine, would do nothing to spice up the Prius. Should Toyota want to build a competitive sporty Prius, stuffing the 2ZZ-GE in the front would simply make it a half-assed hot hatch, in the same way the Honda Civic Si doesn't really compete well in its segment.

A sporty Prius would want to compete with the Focus ST.

(Full Disclosure: This is just pure speculation on my part.)

The 2ZZ-GE is a capable engine. In the hands of Lotus, it produces over 240 horsepower, supercharged, in the Exige. So, supercharge the 2ZZ-GE, stuff it in the front of a Prius, and move on? While that's economically viable for Toyota, I feel like they could do better than a recycled, tired engine with a supercharger glued on.

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I'm going to go multiple ways on this, so stay with me:

Yes, a Prius XRS would make a lot of sense economically and would show a modicum of enthusiasm for performance. However, it would not compete with anything.

A Prius XRS with a supercharger would be a fine competitor to the likes of the Focus ST. It may still be economically viable for the company, and would show a great deal of enthusiasm for performance. However this is more unlikely than a normal XRS-spec Prius (should Toyota ever plan something like this). Also, the 2ZZ-GE is old.

8AR-FTS, the turbocharged 2.0 4-cylinder engine in the Lexus NX-200t. It produces 235 horsepower at 4,800RPM, and 258 lb-ft of torque at 1,650 RPM. Not only would it make a great replacement to the 2ZZ-GE, it would make a great engine in the Prius.

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Okay, I know none of this is going to happen, so put down your pitchforks. It's fun thinking about a fun Prius, though, especially since the brand could really benefit from it.

Shoop > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:14

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I feel like everything about this car from the suspension geometry and up is designed for economy. I think it would be more worth designing a whole new car than trying to modify the Prius chassis and such for sportiness

That said a Prius race car did exist, but then subsequently burned to the ground.

MultiplaOrgasms > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:19

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Just stuffing a powerful engine in it won't do the trick.

How about a revamped Hybrid system inspired by the TS040, possibly with ERS and a small electric motor at the rear for limited all-wheel-drive. Then Toyota should also pay attention to driving dynamics, it won't be Focus ST good but it will show the world that Toyota is serious about this.

E. Julius > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:20

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I think something that would make this idea really shine would be focusing not only on the internal combustion engine, but the electric motor motor as well. Create a sort of hot hatch in the style of the Porsche 918. Honestly I could see this coming to fruition in 10 years when performance hybrid technology has trickled down from the i8 level. It may not be Toyota that executes it, but I think you could find a decent amount of people that want a fun car but want super high MPG as well. Like a CR-Z that's not a pile of shit.

Shoop > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:21

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Is it bad that this is all i could imagine when i looked at this?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Shoop 03/08/2015 at 13:24

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The Axis is back! AHHHHH!!!!

Flat Six > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:29

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Sorry but I already got my pitchfork out of the shed. Prius is for people who dont care about cars. Hot hatches are for people who do care about cars. There is zero overlap! You would have a better chance selling to enthusiasts if you started with a new name, and the actual customers probably won't even know the hot version exists.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:31

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the 8ar is actually a great choice because it can run in Otto or modified Atkinson cycle. I mean, the transmission would explode but still.

TheHondaBro > Shoop 03/08/2015 at 13:38

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Ha, that's what I thought too.

TheHondaBro > Flat Six 03/08/2015 at 13:40

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True, but perhaps if it were better than some of its competition, then the enthusiasts would start listening.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 13:48

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Some guy working near my school went halfway with the TRD visual mods...

Slave2anMG > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 14:02

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Talk about good money after bad....leave the damn thing as the vanilla flavored transportation appliance that it is, and always will be, and walk away.

nafsucof > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 03/08/2015 at 14:19

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whoa civic type R

pip bip - choose Corrour > TheHondaBro 03/08/2015 at 18:44

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no matter what you do to a Prius , you can't polish a turd.

turbojames > Shoop 03/08/2015 at 18:44

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It angered the gods of racing with it's very existence, and so it was smited with righteous justice.