There’s an understanding in the automotive industry that there’s a certain something that sells, and as important as super-efficient drivetrains can be, they are not it.
That thing, in a word, is beauty. Toyota appears to be adding another attribute to their list of values (reliability, efficiency, safety) by going after sleeker, more visually appealing designs. We saw this in the redesign of the Corolla for 2014, the show-stealing FT-1 concept at the North American International Auto Show a few weeks ago, and in the latest statements last week from Toyota design head Kevin Hunter that the 2015 Camry will have a “more emotional, more impactful design.” You know, a design that really feels things, like the environment and world peace and stuff.
What’s new this week is news that not even the soulfully altruistic Prius will escape Toyota’s teary-eyed though maybe jubilant obsession with feelings in design. CarBuzz claims they’re “getting word” that Toyota is going after the artists with the next-generation Prius. Though that’s about as far as the rumors go at this point, it is in line with the overall trend of Toyota paying more attention to design.
In many ways the Prius is the model that made hybrid cars a thing in the U.S., so Toyota has been very careful with every modification to the secret sauce over the years, including the bottle. Still, if a new redesign looks anything like the 2014 hydrogen-powered FCV Concept or the NSF Advanced Plug-in Hybrid Concept from 2012, we would be in favor of it (although the NSF’s hood looks a little bit like the Plymouth Prowler, we think).
Check out the NSF and FCV concepts for clues to the Prius redesign, or leave us a comment with your thought on the matter.
Comments are closed.