2010 Prius design will influence future Toyotas

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Autoblog

The Toyota Prius has long been a love-it-or-hate-it design. The sweeping roofline of the hybrid hatch may have been penned to maximize the car's ability to cut through the wind, but its shape is now instantly recognizable to the masses – so much so that Honda has been accused of ripping off the Prius' basic design for its latest Insight (gasp!).

Whether you're enamored or disgusted by the Prius' aesthetic, you'd better get used to the new styling cues.
The 2010 model is the shape of things to come for Toyota, debuting a few new forms that will infiltrate the rest of the automaker's line-up in the near future. Toyota's global design chief, Wahei Hirai, calls the styling of the new Prius "free-form geometrics," and a few of the more prominent elements -- including the hybrid's sharply-creased corners, slit-like front grille and bolder, more pronounced hood badge -- are all bound for future models. Good thing or bad thing? Tell us in the poll after the jump.

Please, God, make it stop..
 
I think they're already doing that to themselves. But doesn't the Venza already sort of look like the new Prius?
 
To think, just 3 years ago they were still building the fantastic Celica.
But seriously, Toyota has been in a hole ever since they thought the awul look the current Camry has would be much more appreciated on the entire range; culminating in the fabulous Venza. The Prius is just the already-ugly Yaris with headlights that were so obviously stolen from Nissan that Nissan could probably sue.
 
I've no idea why everyone considers the Prius to be the first in that style...

toyota-aygo.jpg


And I quite like the looks of the Aygo.

Anyway, using the Prius to judge Toyota's styling as a whole is like using Amy Winehouse to judge the looks of all other women. You're not exactly picking the most desirable of the breed in the first place...
 
To think, just 3 years ago they were still building the fantastic Celica.
But seriously, Toyota has been in a hole ever since they thought the awul look the current Camry has would be much more appreciated on the entire range; culminating in the fabulous Venza. The Prius is just the already-ugly Yaris with headlights that were so obviously stolen from Nissan that Nissan could probably sue.

The Venza is the best looking Toyota, and that isn't saying much. If the god-awful grille goes away the Venza wouldn't be bad.

2009-toyota-venza.png
 
I love the Aygo, it's cute, and it's practical. The Venza looks very good, and it's got an engine to back it up. The new Prius doesn't look good, however. And dear do I hope all new Toyotas won't look like that.

Didn't Azuremen a while ago posted an article which said that Toyota would go back to its roots?

Anyway, the new Avensis over here has got a Prius-like styline, I do, however, like it very much:

ToyotaAvensis2009.jpg


2009_toyota_avensis.jpg
 
I must admit, given the intense dullness of previous Avenses (the plural of Avensis?...), the new one is actually quite chiselled and modern, and not a bad looking car.

Personally, I think the Venza is a mess.

In Europe, I like the iQ (it's finally grown on me), the Aygo (obviously), the Yaris and Auris are boring, I don't mind the Urban Cruiser (a re-badged Scion xD), the Verso and Prius are dull, the Avensis looks good, the RAV 4 looks good, and I don't really have any opinions on the SUVs. All in all, the European range isn't too bad looking, but it's still missing a Celica and an MR2. Lord knows why Toyota don't think there's a market for a great looking coupe or roadster.
 
Ughhhhh... Why? While I technically drive a Toyota (Scion xD), I loathe most modern Toyotas, with the exception of the Tacoma X-Runner and the iQ.
 
I--I don't see the difference, guys! Help, I've gone blind! Or the designer photocopied the old design, drew a couple of squiggly lines on the headlamps and submitted it on a slow day.
 
Personally, I think the Venza is a mess.

I thought so too until I saw it in person, the photos do not do it justice. While I could do without some of the avant garde styling on the front end, the package as a whole is very appealing... Particularly after spending some time inside, tinkering with the seats, going front-to-back, loading up the boot, etc.
 
Venza looks alright to me, too. It's too much frickin' money for that car IMO though.

For me personally, car designs has been becoming less & less appealing. I remember back in the 80's, 90's, I used to get so excited about new sports cars or sedans coming out. Now days, I'd gladly take 90's, 80's, 70's, maybe all the way back to 20's or 30's design over cars in the U.S. market today(in & out). :lol: Safety equipments/regulations has affected(IMO, destroyed) much in car designing.

I used to think I felt this way because of my age(OLD!), but I guess that's definitely not the case with the Toyota. :D
 
The grill looks like a very ugly rip-off of a SLR.
mercedes-slr-722-edition.jpg



So Toyota is going the route of making every car ugly?
 
I don't think it's fair to call it a ripoff when they miss it by that many light years.....
 
same.

Actually, it'd fit right onto a Yaris, an already fits the Aygo.

not a bad corporate face in my opinion. I don't see the rest of the aero teardrop going to every car, though.
 
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