The rise and fall of the Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius was the world's first mass produced hybrid car and it still might be the most famous of all time.

The nameplate was once synonymous with hybrids and a symbol of the automotive future.

But now sales of the Prius are falling as it has become a victim of a changing market and perhaps, its own success.

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/08/0...us-hybrid.html

^I was just puzzling to myself the other night about why the Prius has gone quiet just when leccy cars are in the ascendancy.

Maybe that video would reveal all...

Unfortunately since I have an adblocker enabled and cannot be bother disabling it I will never know.

I was always puzzled as to why Toyota, who are generally pretty good at design, would make such a technologicaly leading edge car so fucking UGLY. Maybe that's why.

Yeh ... seen heaps come up at the Auctions but the FUGLY aspect always stopped me.

I believe thay wanted to make it look different ... sadly the engineer and not an artist designed.

Every time I see a white one ... all I think is 'ex-taxi' ... and no-one wants to own an ex-taxi

At least here in California a white Prius says government agency (remember my struggles to get one out of the car pool lot back when they were new and I didn't understand the key thing).

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Originally Posted by Cujo

I was always puzzled as to why Toyota, who are generally pretty good at design, would make such a technologicaly leading edge car so fucking UGLY. Maybe that's why.

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Originally Posted by David48atTD

Yeh ... seen heaps come up at the Auctions but the FUGLY aspect always stopped me.

I believe thay wanted to make it look different ... sadly the engineer and not an artist designed.

Every time I see a white one ... all I think is 'ex-taxi' ... and no-one wants to own an ex-taxi

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The Japanese have excelled in making cars that generally are much better in quality and reliability than their American and european rivals. However the prius is probably the Edsel of hybrids. Their technical expertise aside their ability to name cars that provide any inspiration is abysmal. Whilst the septics have names like firebird pheonix thunderbird and mustang, that conjure up thoughts of one being a Steve Mcqueen like figure racing across the vast plains, the japanese have Prius, Celica, Starion, Carona and a sports car called fairlady. Not many men would wish to drive their version of a penile extension called "fairlady". But then the Japanese Rugby team is called the cherry blossoms which may explain everything.

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Originally Posted by David48atTD

The Toyota Prius ......................... and it still might be the most famous l

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For not wanting to go around corners.. J. Clarkson

In Europe Aurus is better, same drive-train.

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Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

But then the Japanese Rugby team is called the cherry blossoms which may explain everything.

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They changed their name to the 'Brave Blossoms'.

Which still explains everything. :D

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Originally Posted by AntRobertson

They changed their name to the 'Brave Blossoms'.

Which still explains everything. :D

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And changes nothing. :roflol: