Prius as a design platform- The car with everything?
The Toyota Prius has come along at a very interesting time in the evolution of car design. This is a car which is based very much on market specifications, and it’s proven itself to be a particularly good platform for innovation and real world market performance assessment. Some cars are too specialized, and don’t actually represent the mainstream market well in their sales. Others are too design-heavy, with their sales based on niche markets. The Prius is right slap bang in the middle of the consumer market, and from car insurance to checkups, it covers the entire functional sedan spectrum.
The Prius as a test platform in the public eye
That mainstream element is particularly important to car manufacturers. Being a hybrid hasn’t exactly been an instant passport to market success for many cars, and the manufacturers need to know what works and what doesn’t. The Prius, interestingly, has become a working benchmark for assessing commercial viability. It’s also highly competitive with all other hybrid designs, which is another primary testing scenario the industry is watching closely.
Prius has been setting benchmarks, and has shown itself to be a very flexible car for incorporating new features. That’s a rare accomplishment for any car, and rarer still for hybrids, which have been the target for as much criticism as applause. The hybrids started out with a tough audience, which has become progressively tougher as design standards become clearer and any suspicion of underperformance is mercilessly highlighted by critics.
Expectations are another factor with hybrids, and they can be killers. A recent effort by General Motors was absolutely pilloried by critics for a range of design features which had been criticized even before the test models came off the assembly line. Other hybrids have been found wanting in basic performance. The Prius, however, has sailed through comparisons easily. It’s generally considered the best hybrid on the market.
The evolutionary possibilities of Prius
The next generation of car designs will have to deal with the very large range of new technology coming on the market.
The list of requirements for manufacturers is daunting:
• A car frame which can deal with the new technology.
• Reliable power systems for steering and onboard electronics
• Good capacity and roomy vehicles
• Design quality on a par with best mainstream cars
• Keeping tooling costs down to ensure good prices
• A very cost effective assembly process
If you’re thinking that this sounds like adapting an existing design would save a lot of serious cost and hard work, you’re right. This is where the Prius has almost unlimited potential for development.
The Prius will be the working platform for development because of its extremely strong record as a designer-friendly car. It will make the rules for the new generations of cars, being the benchmark model. This is a car which can even predict its own car insurance quotes, and it will be extremely hard to beat.
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