Inside, the cabin makes a major step up in maturity and fit and finish, but does so while keeping the elements that make a Prius a Prius. The electronic shifter retains its asymmetrical design and translucent blue material, but now features a tulip shape that is simply gorgeous. The eyebrow cluster at the top of the dashboard is now a full color array of displays that is as easy to interact with as ever, despite boasting more information than ever.
Fuel economy jumps to 54 mpg in the city, 50 mpg on the highway and 52 mpg combined thanks to improved aerodynamics and a lighter lithium-ion battery pack. The split rear glass and vertical taillights are other hallmarks of Prius design that can be traced back to that second generation model. The details are a bit extreme, which causes many onlookers to recoil, but the broad strokes, silhouettes and themes still fall in line with the previous two generation models.
And the future of Prius design looks even more extreme. The upcoming Prius Prime plug-in hybrid will evolve the design of the fourth-generation model when it hits the road later this year. Antuan Goodwin April 30, p. Generation 1. Generation 2 In , the next generation Prius debuted. Generation 2 The Prius grows to a midsize class and transforms into a hatchback.
Generation 2 The new slippery body results in an aerodynamic 0. Generation 2 The interior is more spacious than the first-gen, but retains the standard central screen and horizontal digital display at the base of the windshield.
Generation 2 The EPA figures the Prius will do 48 mpg during city driving, 45 mpg on the highway driving and return 46 mpg combined. Generation 3 In , the model year Prius made its debut. Generation 3 The third generation model hides major revisions beneath a body's design that doesn't change significantly. Generation 3 The coefficient of drag drops to 0.
Generation 3 Toyota's Hybrid System grows to accommodate a 1. Generation 3 The interior design continues to evolve, becoming more futuristic in this third generation. Generation 3 The electronic shifter gains a jewel-like translucent blue hue.
Generation 3 The eyebrow display at the top of the dashboard grows to accommodate and display more data. Generation 3 Despite being more powerful and larger, the Prius continues to grow more efficient. Generation 3 EPA estimates grow to 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway and 50 mpg combined. Some people choose to drive a Toyota Prius. And some people make fun of the Prius and those who drive one. When the duckling grows up, it turns out to be a beautiful swan.
The Toyota Prius has an interesting history. In , the first commercially available Prius rolled off the line and headed to dealer showrooms in Japan.
It would be another few years before the Prius made its way to the global market. The first U. Prius became available in August By then, it was facing stiff competition from other hybrids. Later releases would continue to use that design. Launched in the UK on 2 January with new patents to its name, this advanced successor set benchmarks at both ends of the performance spectrum, being faster and more powerful yet cleaner and more economical than ever before.
Beneath that svelte exterior was a lightweight but tremendously strong bodyshell — its five-star Euro NCAP crash test result equalled the highest ever score in its segment. The purpose of this system was to redress the balance between the petrol and electric motors.
Instead of relying on the petrol engine to produce peak performance, with the electric motor as an ancillary, HSD increased the range and usage of the electric motor to focus on stronger performance. So while the award-winning 1. Indeed, it now offered more torque from nought to 1,rpm than a contemporary V6 diesel. Charge for this motor came from an improved battery pack that had fewer cells and less weight but a greater output density. Many innovations were put in place to improve fuel economy.
These included a new stop-start system to improve urban emissions, an EV driving mode for exclusive use of the electric motor to power the vehicle for up to 1. The result of these advances was a second-generation car with 15 per cent improved fuel consumption — now a combined figure of With much greater demands placed on the electrical side of the drivetrain, Toyota recognised the importance of making similar improvements in the backward flow of charge to the battery.
So it devised a regenerative system that captured the kinetic energy normally wasted through heat during brake application. Each time the brake pedal was pressed, the electric motor reversed its role and became a generator feeding electrical energy back into the battery.
Before the end of , the second-generation Prius had already surpassed the total sales of its predecessor. A quarter of a million models had been sold throughout the world, and with demand growing it was decided that production capacity should be increased to , units per year.
Proclaimed as the most advanced mainstream car on the market, new Prius promised better fuel economy and performance as well as reduced lifecycle emissions from manufacturing through to ultimate disposal.
On sale in the UK from August , it set new reference points for hybrid vehicles with a system output of bhp a 22 per cent increase , combined cycle fuel economy of All this was achieved through seemingly counterproductive methods — a larger 1. In fact, 90 per cent of the hybrid drive components were new. The installation of a larger capacity ZR-series engine allowed Prius to deliver more useful pulling power at lower revolutions — rpm less at a cruising speed of 75mph — for improved economy.
Meanwhile, a new exhaust gas recirculation function kept operating temperatures under control so that the engine would be less likely to need wasteful fuel enrichment to keep the catalytic converters cool. Extensive use of high-tensile metal kept weight in check so the powertrain could better flex its muscles.
This was perhaps best evidenced by three on-demand driving modes that allowed the driver make the most of different conditions. Similarly, the car rode on an all-new platform designed to deliver sharper, more involving handling and greater stability, with particular attention being paid to the flow of air beneath the car.
This not only supported these physical qualities but made further improvements to fuel economy through a drag coefficiency figure of just Cd 0. Numerous high-tech innovations and active safety features were introduced to the class through Prius. This included a solar-powered ventilation system that activated an air circulation fan to reduce the build-up of heat inside the car while parked and reduce the need for air conditioning.
Meanwhile, electricity consumption was reduced by up to 30 per cent through the widespread adoption of LED lights. Formal acknowledgement of the advancements Toyota had made with the third-generation Prius came in the form of it being awarded Japan Car of the Year in and being shortlisted for World Car of the Year.
From the arrival of the Toyota Prius in Europe in , it took eight years to reach , sales but only a further two years to achieve , sales. By the end of September , accumulated Prius sales across the world had exceeded 2,, units. That upward trajectory continued, and by the end of September the figure stood at an incredible 3,, units.
As if the launch of a world-class third-generation car was not enough, exciting new chapters of Prius history opened a couple of years later, increasing the Prius family line-up to three models. These two new models benefited from more powerful lithium-ion battery packs — a first for Toyota — but for two different reasons. The new Prius Plug-in could be charged from an external power source as well as its hybrid drive system.
It was developed to appeal to environmentally conscious early adopters that wanted the benefits of electric motoring but without the range anxiety normally associated with this type of vehicle. The high-voltage battery pack in this vehicle therefore offered an increased range of 14 miles on electric power alone. In this instance, the more powerful battery pack helped to overcome the additional weight of this seven-seat vehicle and deliver performance equivalent to that of the Prius.
With that in mind, the new Prius features a lighter, more compact and more efficient hybrid powertrain that delivers better fuel economy, reduced emissions and lower costs. Its platform adopts the Toyota New Global Architecture that is designed to improve dynamic performance through a lower centre of gravity and a stronger structure.
The new fourth-generation Toyota Prius made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and the first customer deliveries for the European market commenced in March Privately owned Prius was the best car I have ever owned. I have had it for 12 years of trouble free motoring. Thank you Toyota Team from designers to builders and finally Listers the Dealer for a great car.
I await collection. Hi Glyn, Thanks so much for your feedback. Across the 3 of them I must have travelled k miles. To me sadly. But not wanting to leave the Toyota group I bought myself a Lexus hybrid, it has a lot to live up to. Hi Jason, Thank you for your kind words.
We wish you many more happy miles ahead. Do you know about our High Mile Club? Thanks for getting in touch.
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