Prius Limo: Green Luxury or Frankencar?
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 10.19.07
This thing better have a regenerative-braking powered mini-fridge. In what has to be one of the weirdest looking things to come out of Canada since our very own Lloyd (j/k Lloyd!), an enterprising Canuck has taken two Priuses, welded them together, and made either what has to be the greenest limo in the world or the most gas-guzzling Prius - depending on how you look at it. However, the Canadian inventor/mad scientist says the car still gets 50mpg even with the added weight. We don't know if that is before or after the limo reaches its 10 seat capacity, but it sure beats the heck out of those hideous Hummer limo monstrosities.
it's freakish looking. . . but, yes, better than the hummers.
Did you find that picture in the dictionary under irony?
Although I guess if you had, say, five kids to haul around it might make sense. But seriously, Ford sells a mini-van in Europe that gets around 45mpg. They won't bring it here. And we wonder why North Americans resort to sillyness like this.
That looks extreamly photoshoped. Thats also the only picture anyone seems to have of it. I call BS.
seriously, i second you "silent chamber". fake!
If it's a photoshop, it's a pretty good one!
Look closely at the window reflections and background behind the car. I could be missing something, but it looks real.
most stretch limos have seriously beefed up frames, how do you do that with a unibody car? Or do you just hope it doesn't break in half from the extra weight and stress?
This is faked. You can tell that it's photoshopped--the back Prius's wheel is disproportionate to the front wheel.
Photoshopped or not, I don't think it looks that freakish. I like how they kept the curve going throughout the top. But still, cars are evil, so boo!
I think Silent Chamber might be right; but I guess it's only a matter of time before it happens for real...
Actually, if you plow through the Priuschat post about it (http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=37363) the guy is from Missouri, not Canada, and has some interesting construction photos in the thread. He took two wrecked Priuses (an 06 and an 05) and put them together.
The reflection in the windows is too difficult to fake. And why would anyone make a hoax about something so unimportant?
Doubters might want to look at the bigger photo album from the source of the article:
http://www.dieselstation.com/news/automotive/custom-6-door-toyota-prius.html
Traced it back a little further--here's the real source:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=37363&st=120
Has anyone actually confirmed the existence of this car. The Prius is made up of highly complex systems and I highly doubt anyone would easily be able to pull this off, except of course in Photoshop. If it is in fact an actual car, give us some detailed reporting, if your not sure, state so. Remember W5 - Who What Where When Why
Come on people, do your do diligence here! Just because it's the internet doesn't mean you don't have to work. Is this reporting or Frankenporting?
Has anyone actually confirmed the existence of this car. The Prius is made up of highly complex systems and I highly doubt anyone would easily be able to pull this off, except of course in Photoshop. If it is in fact an actual car, give us some detailed reporting, if your not sure, state so. Remember W5 - Who What Where When Why
Come on people, do your do diligence here! Just because it's the internet doesn't mean you don't have to work. Is this reporting or Frankenporting?
hehehe... i would have been honored to make prom love in the back of that thing... :-D
I've imagined myself lounging in a stretch Prius wearing my fair trade, organic silk, onion dyed ball gown drinking tofu Crystal from the wet bar!
"Prius is made up of highly complex systems and I highly doubt anyone would easily be able to pull this off"
"highly complex", too funny all of the "complex" parts are there to start with.. I would beleive that any good mechanic and body shop could pull this off in a few months.
I saw this on another site last week and they said the project started life as 2 wrecked Prius'. One with heavy front damage and one with rear damage. After watchng Monster Garage and seeing the skills that many people possess I believe this is real. The engine and power management system being in an undamaged front section all that's needed is a good battery pack and the cables running from the front to the rear.
One thing that was said of the Prius was that the arched roof structure adds strength to the design.
The quick answer is "YES" - there was, clearly, such a construction project. Follow these 3 web links (from previous posts here) as visual proof.
Then you might ask: Was the final picture "Photoshop"-ed ?
If it was there are "tags" embedded in the image no matter what format the picture is published in - and anyone with CS3 can right click/copy the picture and paste it into PS and instantly tell if if was worked over. Let us know. I can't afford 2 grand for a software package.
Here then, as a convenience, are the same three links pasted from the previous comments:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=37363
http://www.dieselstation.com/news/automotive/custom-6-door-toyota-prius.html
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=37363&st=120
Bill