When the present Toyota Prius was introduced 7 years in the past, it was an enormous disappointment. In accordance with reviews on the time, none different that Akio Toyoda put his oar into the design course of and insisted the automotive ought to have vestigial tailfins like these discovered on Detroit iron from the 50s and 60s. Any readers who personal a gift era Prius will in all probability be irritated with me for saying so, however the automobiles are “Ouch, my poor eyes!” ugly. That’s what you get when some beginner who occurs to be the grandson of the founder will get personally concerned in issues he is aware of nothing about.
The curtain falls and time passes, as they are saying. Toyota has taken the wraps off the subsequent era Prius and it’s a breath of contemporary air — clear, fashionable styling that pulls fairly than repels. Listed here are a number of feedback from Automobile and Driver readers:
- I by no means thought I’d see the day, nevertheless it appears to be like like Toyota is definitely going to make a good wanting Prius. Regardless of maintaining the basic Prius form, the physique traces and lighting designs look fashionable, modern, and comparatively engaging to my eyes.
- Welcome to 2023, the place the brand new Prius appears to be like higher than half of BMWs lineup. Wow.
- The Prius appears to be like… good…? I by no means thought I’d say that. Ever.
There’s extra, however you get the purpose. The brand new Prius appears to be like good and that’s a wonderful factor. My spouse says it nonetheless appears to be like like a Prius, however this one is smoother, extra sculpted, and simple on the eyes. Beforehand, individuals purchased a Prius regardless of the styling. Now they may purchase one as a result of of the styling. What a refreshing change.
However Wait — There’s Extra From Toyota
Nearly as good because the automotive appears to be like, there’s much more to love with this subsequent era Toyota Prius. The present automotive makes do with a reasonably wimpy 123 horsepower powertrain. The brand new automotive ditches the previous 1.8-liter engine and replaces it with an all new 2.0-liter unit. Most energy is now 193 horsepower for the house market automotive. US specs will probably be introduced shortly, however aren’t anticipated to be considerably completely different. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid now has 220 horsepower on faucet.
Toyota says the brand new package deal is as gas environment friendly as the present automotive, however acceleration now takes a quantum leap ahead from round 0 to 60 in round 10 seconds to a extra exhilarating 6.7 seconds for the Prius Prime. Whee! In accordance with CNN, the brand new Prime can have 37.5 miles of electric-only vary in comparison with 25 miles within the present automotive.
In a press launch, the corporate says,
“The Prius has developed beneath the Hybrid Reborn idea into an exhilarating package deal with trendy designs that customers will fall in love with at first sight and fascinating driving efficiency. Toyota’s purpose was to create a automotive that homeowners will proceed to like and drive.
“The brand new Prius inherits the distinctive monoform silhouette of the unique and employs a large and low stance with massive diameter tires to create trendy designs that enchantment to the senses. With the fifth era hybrid system and second era TNGA platform, the brand new Prius delivers comfy driving efficiency that makes customers wish to hold driving.”
Costs weren’t included within the press launch.
Hybrids For All
The Prius hybrid has been very, superb for Toyota. That press launch incorporates some broad hints that the corporate continues to be dedicated to the gasoline engine for the lengthy haul. Right here’s extra from the press launch.
Whereas the Prius has performed a number one function in driving hybrid use, the present unfold of HEVs by a variety of fashions means it has reached a turning level.
The event staff determined to begin from scratch and have a look at what the Prius wants to stay common for the subsequent 25 years. Based mostly on a need to resume the Prius itself and talk the enchantment of hybrid automobiles to a good wider viewers, the Hybrid Reborn idea was created.
The automotive business goes by a once-in-a-century transformation, with a spread of recent next-generation powertrain choices being developed. For the Prius HEV to proceed because the automobile of alternative for the approaching era, the brand new Prius wanted greater than its core energy as an environmentally pleasant automotive. Due to this fact, it was developed as an exhilarating package deal with, trendy designs that customers will fall in love with at first sight and fascinating driving efficiency.
The Takeaway
The following era Prius is right here with nice styling, extra oomph, and longer vary. What’s to not like? Toyota could have simply hit this one out of the park.
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