Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota Hybrid X concept.
The Nikkei business daily in Japan is reporting that the next generation Prius – due out next year as a 2010 model – will supposedly be fitted with solar panels to power a variety of electrical accessories, including the air conditioning. The source informed Nikkei that the solar panels, which would be a first on a production vehicle offered by a major automaker, would be equipped on "high-end" versions of the Prius. There was no mention of what kind of premium Toyota will charge for the solar-equipped Prius, but it confirms earlier reports that ToMoCo plans to expand its lineup of hybrid models.
[Source: Reuters]
Ford Ranger Max concept debuts at Thailand Motor Show (w/VIDEO)
2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio unveiled! Detroit debut, hits showrooms in March
Mazda3 hatch unveiled, will debut next week
Enter the Rumormill: Harley-Davidson quietly launches XR1200 in US?
BREAKING: More Porsche Panamera pics surface_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
In The Autoblog Garage: BMW X6 XDrive 35i
Event Alert: December Calendar of Automotive Events
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS
Orange you glad Jason Calacanis let us drive his Tesla Roadster?
_thumbnail.jpg "In The Autoblog Garage: BMW X6 XDrive 35i")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pete @ Jul 7th 2008 8:16AM
The 1992 Mazda 929 had an optional moonroof with solar cells embedded it that powered a fan to exhaust hot air from it while parked. Not as powerful as these will have to be, obviously, but it is interesting that we've seen the application of solar cells before (not just recently).
Josiah @ Jul 7th 2008 8:35AM
Doesn't the Audi A8 offer the same sort of passive/heat control system for the car while it's parked? I heard somewhere it exhausted hot air, which has to be powered by something other than the main battery I would think.
USAFMech @ Jul 7th 2008 9:39AM
"The 1992 Mazda 929 had an optional moonroof...."
I knew they would make that mistake as soon as I read the headline. Autoblog doesn't doesn't always activate the fact checker.
Seoultrain @ Jul 7th 2008 12:33PM
Pretty sure the S-Class and Bentley Continental have the solar panels to power ventilation while parked as well. I'd think that many six-figure luxury cars have them.
turbo-quattro @ Jul 7th 2008 1:56PM
Josiah:
I believe having a solar panel sunroof is currently available on the A4, A6, and A8; and it has been available on the A8 for many years now(or at least in Europe, I don't know about here in the US due to the limited number of options we are offered.)
CarbonBlack @ Jul 8th 2008 2:09AM
Maybach's also have solar panels on the roof (even though it isn't a major auto maker).
J. @ Jul 7th 2008 8:27AM
Nice one, sign me up!
J.
John Starnes @ Jul 7th 2008 8:30AM
I sure hope the next Prius looks like that concept....looks to be very progressive and spacious and totally "George Jetson". I'd love to know its co-efficient of drag.
xpolarx @ Jul 7th 2008 4:17PM
Really? You like this? I must not understand the design language. I feel like every generation of Prius has thus far looked worse than the one before it. This one looks like a jelly bean that's been bitten in half. There's just nothing inspiring about it.
norb @ Jul 7th 2008 8:45AM
Intriguing news. good job toyota
inteller @ Jul 7th 2008 8:55AM
these will hold up great in a hail storm!
Sean @ Jul 7th 2008 10:30AM
Does any car, with or without a sun/moon roof, hold up well in a hail storm?
CoffeeJones @ Jul 7th 2008 4:45PM
There's a lot of testing that goes into making a car.
I'm sure they've got machines to simulate hailstorms.
There are coatings and hard films to protect against stuff like that. If they think solar cells will hold up over the length of a warranty, and people will pay for them, more power to them.
Kaptain75329 @ Jul 8th 2008 4:42PM
"Does any car, with or without a sun/moon roof, hold up well in a hail storm? " - Sean
Not the way cars are made these days with their ultra thin sheetmetal - Mazda being a serious offender on this one.
"They just don't make 'em like they used to, ay Betsy?!" - The Joker (Batman, 1989)
nardvark @ Jul 7th 2008 9:05AM
With modern photovoltaics, the solar cells will probably outlive most of the Prii they are installed on. I wonder if it will be easy to recover them once the car has bit the dust?
Anyways, it's an interesting idea. I was wondering how they could possibly make the car more appealing to greenies the next time around. I think this will do the trick quite well.
Mark @ Jul 7th 2008 9:25AM
sounds sweet... but expensive too. if its anything over 50k i think they should call it a lexus.
Gstill @ Jul 7th 2008 9:36AM
In other news, GM announced that they will make a car that gets 40 MPG by 2015.
Kris @ Jul 7th 2008 9:38AM
Th!nk announced the same thing for their Ox (full electric), though this will be out the door first, I'm assuming.
BGJ @ Jul 7th 2008 10:10AM
"would be a first on a production vehicle offered by a major automaker"
So, you consider Mazda, in 1992, a "major" automaker??? They are not even in the top 5 today.
Rick @ Jul 7th 2008 10:58AM
Th!nk has this on their concept Ox, but it powers the NAV and dash instruments, etc. I hope they make and bring that to the states as it's an EV but I also look forward to the Prius and any other relief to oil prices.