CarDomain Blog » Prius

Caption Contest: This Week’s Winner!

Rob Einaudi — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:03:31 +0000

This week’s win goes to GetTheClicker for “Now it whistles every time I’m on the highway…. Can you hear me now?” Tune in tomorrow for another high caliber caption contest!

Caption Contest!

Rob Einaudi — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:26:09 +0000

You know the drill: Come up with a caption for the picture below by noon PST next Thursday. If you submit the funniest one, we’ll send you some CarDomain swag. Three entries per member max. Good luck!

Pruck

Rob Einaudi — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:57:59 +0000

Do two wrongs make a right? Check out the build pics at autobeyours.com

Woodie Prius

Jen Dunnaway — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:47:31 +0000

A cross between a Prius and… a coffin? Looks like it’s been expanded and improved from how he had it before. Via Thereifixedit.com.

Hybrid Racing: Riding Mower Smokes Toyota Prius

Michael Berenis — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:58:16 +0000

Not all vehicles were created equal, but the Toyota Prius is definetly lacking balls to the wall performance we’ve all grown to love. You know it’s bad if a riding mower can smoke it! Read more about the hybrid racing at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.

Photo of the Day

Rob Einaudi — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:45:53 +0000

Photo of the Day is giving me the opportunity to use some photos from my stash that weren’t quite right for the caption contest.

If you have a photo you want me to post, PM me or shoot me an e-mail!

One Too Many: Wald's Prius

Ben Schaffer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:45:24 +0000

Sometimes I’m easily amused. I found this early rendering of the Wald “Black Bison Edition” Prius aero kit and I just had to comment on it. I know the Prius tuning is big business in Japan and judging from the looks of this design, I think Wald took it pretty seriously. The only problem is that I think they took it a little too seriously. It looks like they kept on adding more and more until there was simply one too many things going on with it. Continue reading at the Real JDM…

The World's Ugliest Prius

Jim Brennan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:42:32 +0000

While wondering around the SEMA Floor, and winding up at the Green Car section, I spotted this thing, and realized that it is a modified Prius. I have no idea what is going on with the nose, but I do know that the Lambo Doors are truly tasteless. What do you guys think?

ASI Green – Prius Final Version

Ben Schaffer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:32:17 +0000

ASI Japan has released this image of what their Prius aerodynamics package will look. According to ASI, this is the confirmed final version of the design. In other news, ASI has launched a sub brand called ASI Green to release this Prius kit. More at The Real JDM

Tommy Kaira and ASI Prius

Ben Schaffer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:16:31 +0000

Really Japan? Has this what it has come to? All tuning news and innovation coming out of Japan seems to be either R35 GT-R or Prius/Insight. The rest of the tuning scene has very little news coming out. Can we get a little variety please? I’m already holding back on some GT-R blog posts because we have so many as it is, thats the big news these days.

Although you’ll find me being a huge supporter and fan of the R35 GT-R tuning scene, the Prius tuning scene is a bit different for me.

Dont get me wrong, I really respect the Prius (and Insight) for what they are (nature saving, efficient and affordable daily drivers). In fact I wouldnt be opposed to getting a Prius for a daily driver and if I did I’d probably be looking at one of these two companies for modifications (and Top Secret as a great third option for more simple lip kits). There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Prius and absoultely nothing wrong with making it look cool and perhaps even improving aerodynamics for better performance and economy (although these two probably worsen rather than improve Cd).

Continue reading after the jump!

So what’s my beef? I like the Prius, I’d rock these kits…why the negativity? I’ll tell you why. Because this year for Tokyo Auto Salon I’m bringing my whole crew with me, as I usually do. This year we’re rolling 8 deep to Tokyo to see what is new at TAS. And you know what, when I ask my industry insider friends in Japan they all are telling me that TAS wont be the same and it’ll be dominated by “green” cars and eco cars with much less sports car tuning.

I understand the Japanese consumers demand eco tuning and styling, thats cool…but it is so overboard at this point that it feels like the Japanese government must have made a mandate that all tuners ARE REQUIRED to offer a tuning package for either the Prius or the Insight. I mean, who isnt doing parts for these cars right now? Enough already! (and it’s just begun) I’m telling you, if I see a JUN stroker kit come out for a damn Prius I’m throwing in the towel!

So now on top of having a Top Secret Prius demo car (picture that along side the monstrous Nardo Supra) we now have ASI’s demo Prius (picture that alongside their monsterous Tetsu widebody Bentley GTR or their slick Ferrari F430) AND we now have Tommy Kaira’s Prius demo car (picture that alongside their intense looking R35 GT-R car in development).

See what I’m getting at? Where’s the hardcore? Where’s the sports car tuning? Lets enjoy the Prius for what it is (a great eco car) but for my sanity’s sake, PLEASE DO NOT REPLACE OUR SPORTS CAR TUNING FUTURE WITH THIS. I understand Eco is the future for the masses, but can we keep our sports cars too? I thought the point was to have a sports car for the weekends and a Prius to daily drive. Lets keep it that way, keep the R&D coming on sports car tuning parts too please! I really dont want this blog to be required to feature hybrid news 3 days a week because there is nothing else fresh coming out.

Know what I’m saying?

Let me hear what you have to say on this please…

Ending rant, nobody can argue that this rear end of the Prius (below) by Tommy Kaira (under new management in Japan) is the most amazing thing we’ve ever seen on a hybrid. This is as good as it gets design wise for the Prius. If I was an aero parts manufacturer, I wouldnt even bother making a rear under spoiler for the Prius after seeing this by Tommy Kaira. Game over.