It's the Honda Prius!

Bmw_Neo_Type · Jul 17, 2008

There are already a couple of honda cars here in japan, that look exactly like priuses, front end, sides, etc.. w/e.

I am not so surprised.

STAGED · Jul 17, 2008

Well, if there's an extreme emphasis on one criteria, there's a good chance that the end product will look very much the same. I'm sure after Honda entered various cost, packaging, and performance criteria into their models...out will come out the 2nd gen. Prius shape Toyota discovered years ago.

Similar things can be said if F1-racing is the extreme criteria, or hauling stuff pickup truck style, or hauling people minivan style, etc.

It proves what one Automotive Engineering International said, that Toyota is many years ahead of its rivals.

If Honda comes out with a turbodiesel hybrid using their heralded diesel NOx reduction catalyst technology, it will be a cost-independent formidable piece of eco-technology. Even if they come out with a gasoline direct injection - hybrid setup with A/F ratios running ultra-lean in some modes with a recalibrated version of their NOx reduction catalyst, it would be no less formidable and an awesome cost-dependent piece.

BPUKiller · Jul 18, 2008

shak said:
Its a fashion statement. :hay: :hay:

Hey only smug people wear ugly clothes, have ugly dogs, and drive ugly cars and still think they are cool.

Anosa · Jul 18, 2008

I like how Hondas ad campaign for a while was bashing the Prius calling it a cheese wedge and now they've made one...

Beau · Jul 19, 2008

"Memo to Honda, Toyota called, they want their Prius design back:"

Does anyone know WHY they would want it back?
"P.S. The Prius looks the way is does because Toyota focused their attention on efficiency, aerodynamics and functionality before outright aesthetics. Sexy it might not be, but efficient...........hell ya."

Oh any BTW a fat rear end is the opposite of proper aerodynamics. I'm not saying the prius isn't aero dynamic, but its not because of the gay shap of the body so much.

For the volume best shap is a tear drop, with the fat part facing the wind obviously.

TrueSlideXL · Jul 19, 2008

Beau said:
"Memo to Honda, Toyota called, they want their Prius design back:"

Does anyone know WHY they would want it back?
"P.S. The Prius looks the way is does because Toyota focused their attention on efficiency, aerodynamics and functionality before outright aesthetics. Sexy it might not be, but efficient...........hell ya."

Oh any BTW a fat rear end is the opposite of proper aerodynamics. I'm not saying the prius isn't aero dynamic, but its not because of the gay shap of the body so much.

For the volume best shap is a tear drop, with the fat part facing the wind obviously.

Absolutely not.

The Prius has the most efficient shape for a fuel sipping economy car.

Almost every auto manufacturer or anyone into physics can point that out very readily.

A classical teardrop shape is only efficient for a car like a 911 where overall speed is the objective.

With a slower car the focus shifts to reducing drag and turbulence as much as possible in lieu of things like downforce or cooling.

There have been many studies into this; for a car the size of a Civic which is to be used to carry four people and still meet crash standards and customer expectations it will end up looking like a Prius.

The most ideal body shape would actually be more like the Honda Insight....

Google the Ford Probe series of concepts for more info. Some of them resemble the Insight and Prius.

97-SC300 · Jul 19, 2008

What was Honda thinking just blatently copying a prius like that?

bashivr4 · Jul 19, 2008

i don't know abou you guys, but i think toyota took two piece rear window and shape of th roof out of honda insight and CRX. that front looks too much like VW.

fullracehonda · Jul 20, 2008

yikes!, honda should stick to the civic hybrid and clarity, plus they should release a diesel hybrid fit:agreed:

Zylo · Jul 20, 2008

They should stop all this bullshit and just make lighter weight, normal looking two-seaters!

Burke · Jul 21, 2008

When did the Prius come out? The Honda FCX concept debuted in 2006. I'm sur the Prius has been around longer. Too lazy to search.

http://world.honda.com/news/2006/4060108FCX/photo/pages/01.html

1320ms · Jul 21, 2008

fyi, the honda FCX clarity, on hondas main page

http://automobiles.honda.com/

T66Dawg · Jul 21, 2008

Burke said:
When did the Prius come out? The Honda FCX concept debuted in 2006. I'm sur the Prius has been around longer. Too lazy to search.

http://world.honda.com/news/2006/4060108FCX/photo/pages/01.html

2004 for the 2nd Gen Prius.

Burke · Jul 21, 2008

Have to agree then, blatant copy.

Have you seen this chinese x3/x5 rip off? Unreal.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/07/shuanghuan-sceo-chinese-bmw-x5-copy-cat.html

Stevenh · Jul 21, 2008

Considering both cars are designed to as aerodynamic as possible before anything else it doesn't surprise me that they look so similar.

1320ms · Jul 21, 2008

Burke said:
Have to agree then, blatant copy.

Have you seen this chinese x3/x5 rip off? Unreal.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/07/shuanghuan-sceo-chinese-bmw-x5-copy-cat.html

wow... china copies everything, except quality

Crocket · Jul 22, 2008

Beau said:
"Memo to Honda, Toyota called, they want their Prius design back:"

Does anyone know WHY they would want it back?
"P.S. The Prius looks the way is does because Toyota focused their attention on efficiency, aerodynamics and functionality before outright aesthetics. Sexy it might not be, but efficient...........hell ya."

Oh any BTW a fat rear end is the opposite of proper aerodynamics. I'm not saying the prius isn't aero dynamic, but its not because of the gay shap of the body so much.

For the volume best shap is a tear drop, with the fat part facing the wind obviously.

Beau, unless you "really" know what your talking about, you shouldn't try to prove or disprove facts. I'm sure Toyota did their homework when it came to designing the aerodymanmics of this car. And fyi, a tear drop shape is good in some circumstances, but not all.

TrueSlideXL said:
Absolutely not.

The Prius has the most efficient shape for a fuel sipping economy car.

Almost every auto manufacturer or anyone into physics can point that out very readily.

A classical teardrop shape is only efficient for a car like a 911 where overall speed is the objective.

With a slower car the focus shifts to reducing drag and turbulence as much as possible in lieu of things like downforce or cooling.

There have been many studies into this; for a car the size of a Civic which is to be used to carry four people and still meet crash standards and customer expectations it will end up looking like a Prius.

The most ideal body shape would actually be more like the Honda Insight....

Google the Ford Probe series of concepts for more info. Some of them resemble the Insight and Prius.

+1

Sonny

Beau · Jul 22, 2008

Wait I'm confused.

A Teardrop is only most efficent when overal speed is involved?
Can you tell me how an aerodynamic shape that is best at high speeds is not effective at low speeds?

If the shape is efficent for HIGH speeds, it is also for low speeds.
The reason why the Prius could have a good DRAG coefficent, doesn't mean that its overal body shape is MORE efficent than a teardrop. it just means that, openings fender gaps/overhangs undercarriage are more focused on.
As those in aggrogate are very important to aerodynamics.

Additionally I said the teardrop shape is most efficent for the volume, clearly we cannot design a useable car as a teardrop shape due to the proportions we use space, it would contort and skew the shape into something less effective.

And the honda insight has a teardrop shape... If you hadn't noticed.

It tapers off at the tail.
I'm not sure why there was such an agressive denial of the truth I typed, and it actually didn't go against much of what you all said. Its just that the Prius would be more aerodynamic if it were shaped differently, however, the useable volume would drop most likley and cost and ugliness would increase.

It's the Honda Prius!

Bmw_Neo_Type

STAGED

BPUKiller

Anosa

Beau

TrueSlideXL

97-SC300

bashivr4

fullracehonda

Zylo

Burke

1320ms

T66Dawg

Burke

Stevenh

1320ms

Crocket

Beau

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