Given the large size, weight and space that the two Hall Effect sensors and the X-Y stick and bearings take, it would be more likely than not that the Gen IV shifter will take the form of a KNOB. Among bells and whistles, cars shift to buttons, knobs A few months, ago, I did a full "teardown" of Gen II and Gen III shifters. A knob shifter would take 1/5 of the space and weight of the current ones.
anything would be better than what we have now. i hope they put it somewhere unobtrusive instead of right in the middle of the valuable real estate!
Who knows? Pure speculation. Guess I'm old school here. I grew up learning on a manual transmission. All my early cars were manual transmissions. I'm kind of locked into the "shifter" look and feel with even automatics. But times have changed. I think younger generations are more adept to different input avenues. They aren't necessarily use to a vehicle having a "shifter". With the Prius the interface is really just an input selection. People have already installed aftermarket button selectors. I suppose Toyota could go with a shifter, buttons, knob or dongle. The Gen 3 "dongle" is kind of weird. I've adjusted...but it never has struck me right. Just not sure anything I could replace it with would necessarily be any better. But it seems like an emasculated withered shifter. Never have really liked it.
Like this! just in front of the armrest! left twist: reverse right twist: drive Neutral: push button on center (top) Park: left side then, free up space for wireless charging and cupholders! problem with individual buttons, have to look down before pushing!
If I were designed it, I'd use the components and circuit of the aftermarket shifter, but with the current shift pattern and an "h" shaped ridge separating the buttons to prevent accidentally pushing the incorrect button. It is absolutely compact and weighs almost nothing.
i'm not impressed with the press and rotate all in one knob that so many are going to these days. seems awkward and you have to look at the screen too much.
The interesting thing is that the Gen 2 already had a shift-by-wire system which is why it had a small shifter on the dashboard that didn't take up much real estate. It takes up less space than most of the new button-based systems that are showing up (and I prefer a shifter or a knob than buttons for PRND). The 200's knob is one of the smallest ones in the business. The MKZ's set of buttons are fairly compact too but I don't like buttons. The Gen 3's shifter is smaller but obviously aesthetics was at play as the base of that shifter is much larger than it needs to be. That being said, it's very well placed. I can rest my arm on the centre console lid and my hand can rest on the shifter to shift into B or D. I also like the Gen 2's placement near the steering wheel as I'm able to shift between D, B and R without my right hand leaving the wheel. Try rocking a car out of a parking spot on a snowy winter with those buttons like the Acura. It feels awkward, having to constantly shift between D and R. BMW's is probably the best in terms of space efficiency. It's not the most pretty but look at how little real estate it takes on the centre console, allowing for other things to be placed there or allowing it to be slimmer, freeing up more kneeroom.
The Prius"v" reverts to placing the shifter back on the dash where it really belongs to save space. The "box" behind the lever takes up a lot of room and adds a lot a weight. Using a "push button" electronic shifter convert all this to useful space in the dash. For my own "v," I conveniently made a shift knob that is at least an inch shorter than the one supplied by Toyota.
Either it's going to be Prius v (dashboard); hit Start and the shifter is right there, or the NS4 placement just in front of armrest.
If they really want to save space, they could put a small rotary knob on the driver's side (it'll definitely be unconventional but it'll be difficult to reach for the passenger in case of an emergency) where the mirror controls are and embed the POWER button within the knob. "B" could be engaged with paddle shifters. The mirror controls can return to the door handle and there may be space for maybe 3 or 4 other auxiliary buttons (PCS-OFF seems to be gaining popularity as other manufactures put a button for that on the driver's side panel left of the steering wheel. Currently, Toyota puts it underneath the knee airbag, beside the TPMS SET button).
