Sport:Life First Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius

In the foothills of Tucson’s Mount Lemmon, Toyota’s public relations staff delivered Utterli tragic news: a driving impression embargo would preclude live video microblogging coverage of the 2010 Prius. Crushed, I resolved to hike the mountain in the Prius anyway. Now that the embargo has passed, here are a few excerpts from my notes.

The Prius’s silhouette may be contentious, but two points can’t be argued: the aerodynamic shape serves its purpose well, and anything is a welcome alternative to typical Toyota anonymity. Unfortunately, that blandness has crept into the Prius’s front fascia. Toyota’s corporate slit-and-nub grille has been grafted onto the Prius, which offers little differentiation from the Corolla or Yaris from head-on angles.

Toyota pushed the roofline peak aft to increase headroom for backseat passengers. The new roofline’s funky bump gracefully cascades into a refined kammback. Standard energy-efficient LED taillamps integrate nicely with the functional rear spoiler in a handsome evolution of the Prius’s rear quarter.

Interior volume has increased, and is now within eight cubic feet of both the Camry and Fusion Hybrid. The Prius’s lack of ecologically-conscious upholstery and use of traditional petroleum-based seating foam may turn off some greenies, and the mostly staid interior design leaves only one thing to talk about: the Touch Tracer-actuated Multi-Information Display. Touch Tracer is Toyota’s name for touch-sensitive steering wheel controls replicated on the dashboard’s top tier. The redundancy is intended to keep drivers’ eyes on the road while scrolling through trip information screens. Like all Toyota and Lexus hybrids, the fancy dash lacks a tachometer. The monotone green display must be a tribute to Tron — the antiseptic graphs can’t compare to the Fusion’s focus on design. Judge for yourself:

Unfortunately, Toyota’s corporate navitainment head unit is nestled into the Prius’s dash. Drivers must choose between having radio presets at hand, displaying song and artist information, or displaying the navigation map. The world’s best systems share screen real estate — this interface is so poorly executed that the volume bar is not even skinned.

What makes the Prius livable are its on-road dynamics — and we’re not yet talking about fuel economy. To my shock and surprise, the pre-production Prius I drove was outfitted with an electronic power steering system with genuine weight. Every snaking segment leading to the summit of Mount Lemmon revealed an incredible truth: the Prius does not suffer from vapid wheel feel. Not once during the admittedly gradual 8000-foot climb did the Prius’s battery assist run out of grunt. The third-generation nickel-metal hydride system obviously works hard to recapture every possible electron during regenerative braking and coasting — and the proof is in the MPG.
Federal estimates say the Prius can travel 50 miles per gallon in mixed driving. As always, your mileage will vary. Dan Bryant’s sure did. The president of the Houston Hybrids and Hypermilers’ Club achieved 90.6 miles per gallon in the new Prius — one full mile per gallon more than the previous-generation car. To read his impressions, check out the EcoLLC.com blog.

During the pre-drive press briefing, Prius marketing director Doug Coleman said that the new Prius faces two major adversaries: the global economic downturn, and the aggressively priced Honda Insight. Coleman’s almost militant frankness could very well suggest a brewing price war. Any battle for hybrid supremacy will benefit green-minded buyers — and a truly affordable Prius could sway Camry buyers away from the beige and bland once and for all.
Here’s hoping.

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2009 Meet Brian Deese, the 31-year-old in charge of breaking up GM

Many of us ABers being in our early- to mid-30s, we're less amazed that another of our ilk has risen to a decisive government position. We are, after all, a generation on the rise. The surprising part about Brian Deese's story is that he's been instrumental in shaping the Obama administration's moves to save General Motors, and this is his first official tour of duty in Washington. What qualifies a guy who hasn't even finished his Yale Law degree to steer President's automotive task force around? From what's been said about Mr. Deese, his quick ability to boil down the often competing economic and political aspects of any given issue.

Deese piped up in favor of Fiat's rescue of Chrysler, pointing out with a memo that a fire sale of the ailing automaker would send unforseen ripples out into the economy as a whole. Speaking out in such an influential manner is definitely unusual considering Deese doesn't appear to be an auto enthusiast or business propeller-head with his nose buried in studies and reports about the car industry. A childhood spent in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts under the parentage of a college professor an an engineer, Deese did his undergraduate time at Middlebury College in Vermont before heading to Washington to work for Nancy Birdsall on international aid. A turn with former Clinton policy wonk Gene Sperling before the move to Yale, Hillary Clinton's bid for nomination brought Deese back to DC. With friends in Washington, Deese found himself hooked into the Obama team, and from there he's been running busily around our nation's capital.

If General Motors can successfully navigate Chapter 11, we'll all get to see just how well Brian Deese has done digesting the thorny chestnut that is saving our domestic auto industry.

Toyota Prius arrives in Detroit [Live photos added]

It’s the car that started it all. Back in 1997, Toyota introduced the original Prius, which was the first ever mass-produced hybrid-electric vehicle. The car’s name is a Latin word means “to go before” — in this case denoting a car that was the first in what the forward thinkers at Toyota thought would eventually become the norm. Twelve years later, Toyota is rolling out its third-generation Prius, redesigned for the 2010 model year.

For the most part, Toyota is still building upon the basic Prius concept. The car still has a quirky hatchback design, it’s still powered by relatively basic nickel-metal hydride batteries, and performance numbers will likely discourage enthusiasts.
But there are a number of solid improvements and clever new features that will serve to bolster the car’s following and potentially lure new customers. These include a moonroof with solar panels, four driving modes, Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA), and steering wheel touch controls. A multi-information display panel that monitors fuel and energy consumption is also standard.
The first-generation Prius was rated 41 EPA mpg, and the second-generation model pushed that figure to 46 mpg. The 2010 model marks another significant incremental improvement to 50 miles per gallon (combined city/highway).
A larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine powers the car. Contrary to what one might think, the larger engine actually helps improve highway mileage. By making more torque, the new engine can run at lower average rpm on the highway.
An electric water pump and a new exhaust gas recirculation system also boost efficiency. Furthermore, the engine has no belts under the hood, resulting in better fuel economy and less potential maintenance. The new transaxle and inverter are both 20 percent lighter, reducing the car’s overall weight.
Weight was also saved through use of aluminum in the hood, rear hatch, front suspension axle, and brake calipers. Lighter steel is used in the rocker inner, center pillar, and roof reinforcement.
The new Prius will offer three alternative driving modes. EV-Drive Mode allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile, if conditions permit. There is also a Power Mode, which increases sensitivity to throttle input for a sportier feel, and an Eco Mode, which helps the driver achieve the best possible mileage.
Other energy-saving features include available LED low beams and taillights, a more efficient air conditioning system, and a unique ventilation fan that promises to reduce the need for air conditioning in the first place.
The air circulator — which is powered by solar panels — prevents the interior air temperature from rising while the vehicle is parked. This, in turn, makes cool-down time shorter when the driver returns to the vehicle.
The air-conditioning system is also capable of running with the engine off, so the driver can adjust the interior temperature for comfort before getting in the car — an industry first.
Toyota says it listened to customer feedback, and sharpened handling, reduced road noise, increased interior volume, and improved acceleration. The zero to 60 mph sprint takes 9.8 seconds now — an improvement of over one second. Disc brakes are now used on all four corners, replacing the front disc/rear drum brakes in the current model.
Interior space has increased considerably, both by making the car larger and making the cabin design more efficient. The car is 0.4 inches longer and 2.2 inches wider. The battery cooling unit also takes up less space, providing more room for passengers. Rear legroom is further improved thanks to thinner front seats.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system is now an available option. The system also enables Lane Keep Assist, which helps the driver stay safely within the lane, and the Pre-Collision System, which retracts seatbelts and applies the brakes in certain conditions when a crash is unavoidable.
The next-generation Intelligent Parking Assist features simplified settings to help guide the car into parking spaces. A backup monitor, which provides a view of rear obstacles when reverse is engaged, is available with an optional voice-activated navigation system. Safety Connect, Toyota’s first safety and security service, will be available a few months after launch.