Production of the next generation Toyota Prius has been delayed until December of 2015, as engineers are working on fine-tuning the new vehicle platform and the next-generation hybrid system. The fourth-generation Toyota Prius, code-named 690A, was initially scheduled to launch in spring 2015.
The Prius confirmation vehicle, a prototype typically built 12 months before Job 1 to ensure performance, is scheduled for November 2014. Production of the plug-in hybrid version is expected to start in October 2016.
As reported by Autonews Europe, the exact reasons for the six-month delay are unclear, with one source saying engineers were tweaking the car to ensure maximum fuel economy, possibly adjusting body and chassis issues. Toyota said it couldn’t comment on future product plans.
The next Prius will be a test bed of critical new technologies, including Toyota’s modularized vehicle architecture and next-generation hybrid system. It is very important for the automaker to get the car right, so delays are not a major issue.
The new modular platform, dubbed “Toyota New Global Architecture”, aims to increase the number of parts shared among vehicles to improve quality and lower costs. The new hybrid system is expected to be smaller, lighter and more efficient. Toyota is targeting a fuel economy improvement of at least 10 percent over the current Prius, which debuted in 2009.
According to Satoshi Ogiso, Toyota managing officer for product planning, the next generation hybrid system will be redesigned to support a wider range of engines and vehicle types, going beyond the Prius C, standard Prius and Camry-class cars.
By Dan Mihalascu
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