Toyota exec gets mad about next Prius delay rumors

Watch out, it’s Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto (sounds like he can kick your ass), and he seems pretty angry. What is he mad about? Well you remember that report by the Wall Street Journal, that the next-generation Toyota Prius will be delayed due to safety problems with the lithium-ion battery?

Takimoto denied that there is any delays on the next-generation Prius and said that everything is going smoothly. He also said that the next-generation Prius won’t need a lithium-on battery since the nickel-metal battery is well-suited for the car and that the popular hybrid car can offer better mileage just by improving its parts and motor.

“I never said there was any delay,” Takimoto told...
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minimalist - 10/25/2007 3:43:25 PM

-1 Boost

too bad the prius concept design is no better than the original. honda has got the hybrid market this time around with the fcx.

Porschinator - 10/25/2007 5:25:10 PM

-1 Boost

A thing most of you may not know. Chevron owns several patents on Lithium battery technology. If Toyota is granted to use the tech it will be costly. This is the main reason Toyota is not going with the much better Lithium battery tech. GM may have rights to it since Chevron and GM have worked on electrical autos before....EV1.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/25/2007 5:41:03 PM

-2 Boost

The lithium ion battery isn't just about fuel economy!!! It's about packaging efficiency and weight reduction! This is not a smart move by Toyota...

A4ORCE - 10/25/2007 6:52:23 PM

+4 Boost

Better safe than have the batteries fail, or worse, blow up under someone's ass.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/26/2007 11:58:20 PM

0 Boost

Or blow up under Toyota's ass. I guess. I hope it's under testing, at least.

Obliv - 10/25/2007 8:30:32 PM

-3 Boost

That had got to be the stupidest looking vehicle ive ever seen. Just when I thought they couldnt make the prius any worse...

autopro - 10/26/2007 4:44:12 PM

+2 Boost

That's just a concept,not a production model.I'm sure the production model will look alot better.Toyota is light years ahead of honda on hybrid tech.

Will_ - 10/25/2007 9:29:27 PM

+4 Boost

I wouldn't be too quick to decide how "smart" Toyota is at hybrids, considering...

If Toyota is confident in nickel-metal I'm confident in it too.

r15mohd - 10/26/2007 8:45:33 AM

+3 Boost

i have no worries about toyota's decision on the Prius. they hold the thrown in the hybrid segment and i trully dont see them letting that slip away anytime soon.