今年九月上旬，豐田公司在拉斯維加斯為2016年第四代混合動力普銳斯舉行了一場發(fā)布會，這也是豐田歷史上最大規(guī)模的發(fā)布會，共招待了350名賓客。之前，坊間一直流傳著新普銳斯的造型與圖紙，這場發(fā)布會意在破除流言，重點在展示新普銳斯的外貌，而非強調(diào)細節(jié)。
有一個細節(jié)值得矚目：盡管在過去15-20年間，普銳斯的全球累計銷量高達350萬輛以上（在豐田的800萬總銷量中占據(jù)了相當可觀的比例），但現(xiàn)在，豐田似乎想要將其改頭換面，希望這輛外形俊俏的混合動力車能夠吸引新的用戶進入混動市場。在忠誠度方面，普銳斯已經(jīng)在豐田所有車型中名列前三了。
豐田自己也表示，2016普銳斯“具有引領全新混合動力時代的驚人的外觀。”除了外觀的重新設計之外，性能也是重點改善的內(nèi)容之一。“我們采用了一個全新的平臺和后部雙叉骨懸架，讓駕駛性能提升了一個檔次。”豐田集團副總裁兼汽車部門總經(jīng)理Bill Fay在發(fā)布會上表示，“過去就有許多消費者關注燃油經(jīng)濟性，強調(diào)理性消費，而現(xiàn)在他們對這一點更加重視了。”
豐田稱這個“徹底翻新的”普銳斯外觀的設計靈感來自于起跑線上的賽跑選手。“這個運動感十足的設計表現(xiàn)出了一種前進的動態(tài)”，豐田希望借此吸引更多用戶沖向它。重新設計的內(nèi)容包括降低引擎蓋的高度和讓車頂前傾。在尺寸上，新普銳斯比舊版長了2.4 英寸 (61 mm)，寬0.6 英寸 (15 mm)，高度低了0.8 英寸 (20 mm)，并且室內(nèi)空間也有所提升。
新的標準LED前大燈可以有效減小普銳斯的車頭面積，“這有助于定義汽車的性格”。正如豐田自己形容的那樣，車尾的組合燈非常“獨特”，而且延續(xù)了從后擾流板到側(cè)邊后緣的曲線。
在技術(shù)細節(jié)方面，諸如哪些車型使用哪些電池（鎳-金屬氫化物電池還是鋰離子電池）、豐田的新全球架構(gòu)（TNGA）、以及是否會推出全輪驅(qū)動版本等疑問，豐田汽車運營高級副總裁Bob Carter表示，目前無法透露更多信息，但10月下旬東京車展上“豐田將會讓你驚訝得hold不住。”
就目前而言，豐田僅透露新普銳斯將具備更小、更輕的混合動力系統(tǒng)部件；更高的電池能量密度；以及一個“熱效率史無前例的（超過40%）”的內(nèi)燃機（可能是1.8 L）。這些結(jié)合起來將使整車的燃油經(jīng)濟性提升10%。在發(fā)布會上，豐田表示在日后還將推出一款環(huán)保的Eco車型，它的燃油經(jīng)濟性數(shù)據(jù)還將更為出色。
2016普銳斯是全球首輛TNGA車型。TNGA是豐田公司的一個將傳動系統(tǒng)部件與汽車平臺研發(fā)加以整合的項目。該項目的主旨是通過具體研發(fā)項目的戰(zhàn)略組合，讓不同車型更好地共享汽車部件，從而將資源利用率提高20%以上。拿普銳斯舉例，新車型具備重心更低、反應更靈敏的懸架系統(tǒng)（其中包括全新的車尾雙叉骨設計），這便是實施TNGA的結(jié)果。
據(jù)稱TNGA也將使車身結(jié)構(gòu)更堅固，上部車身的構(gòu)造能夠分散正面沖擊能量，從而為乘客提供更好的保護。
預計新版普銳斯將于2016年早些時候正式上市。
作者：Jean L. Broge
來源：SAE《汽車工程雜志》
翻譯：SAE 上海辦公室
Toyota gives a look at its re-engineered 2016 Prius
While Toyota threw quite the launch party in early September in Las Vegas—a first for the company—to enable over 350 guests to get an official look at the 2016 fourth-generation Prius hybrid as opposed to subsisting on leaked images and suspect drawings, the party was most definitely more about looks than details.
One detail that did become clear was that even if over the last 15-20 years the Prius has accounted for more than 3.5 million in global sales (a good chunk of Toyota’s overall 8 million hybrid units), Toyota now seems to want the Prius to be viewed as just another pretty face, albeit one that happens to be a hybrid, hoping that the vehicle’s design will tempt new buyers to enter the hybrid market. It is already among the top three of Toyota vehicles in terms of loyalty rates.
If Toyota says so itself, the 2016 Prius features a “striking exterior design [that] ushers in [a] new hybrid era.” Besides the look of its redesigned exterior, emphasis has also been placed on performance with a “new platform and rear double wishbone suspension [that] dial up driving dynamics.” As Bill Fay, Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division said at the event, “What was once a rational purchase that for many customers focused on fuel economy, is now so much more.”
Toyota says its rationale behind the “completely reimagined” Prius’ exterior was inspired by a runner in the starting blocks, with a “sporty design that conveys a feeling of forward motion” that it hopes will having future customers running toward it. Part of that design consisted of the vehicle’s hood being made lower and the roof peak moved forward. Overall, the new Prius is 2.4 in (61 mm) longer, 0.6 in (15 mm) wider, and 0.8 in (20 mm) lower with more interior space than the model it replaces.
New standard LED headlamps were placed to minimize the Prius’ front fascia and “help define the vehicle’s character.” The rear combination lamps are certainly “unique” as Toyota describes and follow along the lines from the rear spoiler to the trailing edges of the sides.
In terms of the details about some of the technologies that make up the Prius, including which battery options (nickel-metal-hydride vs. Li-ion) will be available for which vehicles, more detail on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA), and confirmation or denial about an all-wheel drive version, Bob Carter, Senior Vice President—Automotive Operations, said that Toyota is holding onto that information and more until the Tokyo Motor Show in late October, when the company will “give you all the specs you can stand.”
For now, Toyota teases that the vehicle will have smaller, lighter hybrid system components; higher energy density in the batteries; and an internal combustion engine (probably 1.8 L) touting “ground-breaking thermal efficiency” (more than 40%), that will all contribute to about a 10% fuel economy improvement. Hinted at the Prius reveal, Toyota says an Eco model, to be unveiled at some other future date, will achieve an even greater improvement.
The 2016 Prius is the first global vehicle to implement TNGA, which is an integrated development program for powertrain components and vehicle platforms. Vehicle development is strategically grouped to promote better sharing of components to improve resource efficiency by over 20%. Just a sampling of the benefits the Prius reaps via the use of the TNGA is a lower center of gravity and a more responsive suspension package that includes the new rear double wishbone design.
TNGA is also expected to provide a more rigid structural framework to help enhance occupant protection with an upper body designed to distribute frontal collision impact energy.
The vehicle is expected to be in dealerships in early 2016.
Author: Jean L. Broge
Source: SAE Automotive Engineering Magazine
豐田公司在2016普銳斯的車尾上安裝了“獨特且令人矚目的組合燈”，有助于消費者將其與前幾代普銳斯區(qū)分開來。
根據(jù)用戶反饋，豐田決定在新內(nèi)飾中“融入高科技”，提供更多功能，并使其“具有視覺沖擊力?！?/span>
新普銳斯比舊版長了2.4 in (61 mm)，寬0.6 in (15 mm)，高度低了0.8 in (20 mm)，并且室內(nèi)空間和后備箱空間也有所提升。
豐田設計師為新普銳斯設計了數(shù)條從前翼子板沿著車身側(cè)面延伸出來的“大膽的線條”。從車窗延伸而來的曲線直接掃過后翼子板的上方，而上面那條折痕則融入降低了的后擾流板。
豐田表示，普銳斯全新的后端雙叉骨懸架可讓駕駛員更好地感受路面，因為它能在所有駕駛條件下提供更好的控制與反饋性能。更堅固的車身結(jié)構(gòu)也有助于提升轉(zhuǎn)彎時的反應靈敏度。
2016普銳斯將有7種車身顏色可供選擇，其中包括全新的“超音速紅”。這款新色彩采用了一種全新的制作工藝，“可將車身形狀完美凸顯出來”。
普銳斯寬大的儀表板不僅功能齊全，而且還呈現(xiàn)出一種“舒適而寬敞的感覺”。
新普銳斯的內(nèi)飾特點包括全包裹儀表板、人體工學座椅、舒適的控制設備和更寬闊的視野。