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Toyota Motor Corp has released the first fully redesigned version of its Prius Plug-in Hybrid in five years. The revamped car can run significantly longer using just electric power and it uses a more-powerful electric motor during acceleration.
Toyota says the car’s features make it an ideal candidate for the next generation of environmentally friendly vehicles.
The new model is based on Toyota’s fourth-generation Prius Hybrid, which was released in December 2015, but features a new exterior.
While the previous model looked almost exactly like the regular Prius, the new version’s front end features slitted headlights and a large acrylic grill, creating an advanced look that resembles the Mirai fuel-cell vehicle.
The streamlined shape features rear doors made from a carbon-fibre material that is lighter than aluminium.
The battery’s capacity is double the previous model’s, enabling it to go more than twice as far - about 68 kilometres - as an electric vehicle. Trips to nearby destinations will not use any petrol.
After the charge runs out, the car switches to hybrid mode. Running on petrol, it gets 37.2 kilometres per litre, similar to Toyota’s compact Aqua.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, the first thing that catches the eye is a large 11.6-inch display, standard in most models, for in-vehicle information equipment.
The display is installed lengthwise and is easy to operate from the driver’s seat. The screen can be split, giving access to two features at once, such as navigation and sound controls. The vertical display gives what the company calls a “next-generation feel” to the interior that differs from the look of conventional horizontal screens. – The Japan News