Toyota Prius Hybrid: The Third Generation

Motoring Channel Staff - 13/January/2008

Detroit, America – While there were cars at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show that were more frugal than the all-new 2009 model Toyota Prius hybrid, there's no denying the vehicle's symbolism.

If you want to show other road users you care about the environment, the Prius is one of the best ways to show it - and doesn't Toyota know it.

Unveiled today (Australian time) in Detroit, the all-new Prius shows off a subtle new exterior design that hides a range of improved technologies that contribute to more fuel savings.

Powered by a larger 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine, Toyota claims the new model will deliver an improvement of around 10% over the current Prius's 4.4L/100km.

An official fuel consumption figure hasn't been released, but is expected to be around 4.1 litres of fuel used per 100km travelled.

Unlike some of its rivals, the new generation 2009 model Prius is a "full" hybrid: it can run on the engine alone, the battery alone, or a combination of both.It has three predetermined 'modes' that are as follows:

EV Mode: allows driving on battery power alone for up to 2km
Power Mode: increases sensitivity to throttle input (like a 'sports' mode)
Eco Mode: helps drivers achieve their best fuel economy

More than a million Toyota Prius models have been sold worldwide, and about 12,000 of them found homes in Australia.

Toyota expects the new model will be an bigger seller when it comes to Australia in the third quarter of 2009.

Peter Evans, Toyota Australia's corporate manager of product planning, said the unveiling of the new Prius heralded an exciting 12 months for Toyota and its Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

"This is a car that will fulfill the varied demands of many customers - whether their priority is a car with ultra-low emissions, excellent city and highway performance or more space for their families and luggage," stated Mr Evans, who also talked about the upcoming Toyota Camry Hybrid.

"Of course, the benefits of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology will be available to even more Australian motorists early next year when we launch our locally manufactured hybrid Camry," added Evans.

The new design is not just to make it look all Lexus-y. 

The smooth new body work also gives the Prius an impressive drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25. This is basically how aerodynamic the car is, which is key to reducing fuel consumption at higher speeds.

Toyota claims that "the third-generation car will introduce several world and Toyota firsts, including best aerodynamic profile of any mass-produced vehicle in the world" and there's even Toyota a moon-roof with solar panels that keep the car cool while you're away.

Replacing the 1.5-litre petrol engine is a newer, larger 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle engine.

But "contrary to conventional wisdom," states Toyota, "the larger engine actually helps improve fuel economy. By producing more torque, the new engine can run more efficiently on the highway - operating at lower rpm and using less fuel."

Toyota also says the new model will accelerate 1.0 second faster than the current car from standstill to 100km/h.

Not Just A Pretty Face

As well as a new design that is even more aerodynamically efficient, thanks to flatter underbody panels among other things, there will also be the option of specifying a sliding glass moonroof. It features solar panels that provide power to the new ventilation system.

It sounds like an ideal solution for hot Australian summers, because the venting system prevents the air temperature in the cabin from rising while the vehicle is parked. 

This then makes the cool-down time shorter when the driver returns to the vehicle, thus reducing the use of air-conditioning.

And how's this: the driver can adjust the interior temperature for comfort before even getting in the car. Remote controlled air-con - the ultimate new car gadget!

Some other energy reducing features include LED headlights (for low beams) and also in the brake lights.

Though it sits on a new platform, the third generation Prius has the same wheelbase as the current generation but is 15mm longer overall and the entire manufacturing and construction of the vehicle has been undertaken using "processes that reduce pollution in every stage of vehicle life, from development, production and driving, through to disposal," says Toyota.

The new 1.8-litre Prius engine is also the first Toyota powerplant that uses no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance.

It even uses an electric water pump and a new exhaust heat recovery system that contribute to the engine's efficiency.

Taking a leaf out the Lexus handbook of lazy driving, there's also Dynamic Radar Cruise Control which uses an advanced millimetre wave radar to increase or reduce speed dependent on close you drive to the vehicle in front.

And if that wasn't enough there's a rear-view camera, voice-activated satellite navigation system, and an intelligent parking assistant that will guide the car into parking spaces.

Step Into The Future

The interior has also been given a make over, and current owners fed up with a tiny boot will appreciate the larger boot. It's now 10mm longer and 56mm wider thanks to the revised layout of the battery-cooling unit. 

Rear-seat legroom has also been enhanced thanks to a new contoured front-seat design.

High tech touch sensors on the steering-wheel switches are designed to reduce driver eye movement for better concentration on the road and when the driver touches the audio or info switch located on the steering wheel, a duplicate image is displayed on the instrument panel, directly in front of the driver. 

Toyota calls this the 'Touch Tracer', which is claimed to be the first system in the world to allow steering-wheel controls to read out on the instrument panel.

There's also a range of fuel consumption-related telemetry on the ECO indicator and the Multi-Informational Display (MID).

Better Safe Than Sorry

Being a Toyota, the all-new 2009 Prius is expected to be a very safe 5-seater vehicle, like to get a 5-star safety rating.

It can be ordered with a number of airbags: front and rear side-curtain airbags, driver and passenger-mounted side airbags, knee airbags, and driver and front-passenger airbags. 

Active headrests are also used to reduce whiplash injuries if you're rear ended and all the usual safety features will be offered, which are as follows: 

- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Electronic traction control (TRAC)
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

Expect the new 2009 model year Toyota Prius to hit Australian show rooms later in 2009 (third quarter is the official date), where it will likely be priced slightly above the current vehicle's $37,400 entry-level price.

2009 Toyota Prius Specifications:

Powertrain
1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with VVT-i
Power: 73kW (98hp) @ 5200rpm
Torque: 142Nm (105 lb-ft) @ 4000rpm
Electric motor: Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Electric motor power output: 60kW/207Nm (80 hp/153 lb-ft)
Hybrid system net horsepower: 100kW (134hp)
Emission rating: SULEV (with AT-PZEV)
Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission
Drive system: Front-wheel drive
Hybrid battery pack: Nickel-metal hydride

Dimensions
Overall length: 4460mm
Overall Width: 1745mm
Overall Height: 1480mm
Wheelbase: 2700mm
Ground clearance: 139.7mm
Co-efficient of Drag: 0.25
Wheels: 15-inch alloy wheels
Tyre size: 195/65R15
Seating capacity: 5

Related Links:
- Toyota Camry Aussie Hybrid (2010)
- Toyota Kluger (Road Test)
- Toyota Prius (2010)
- Toyota Hybrids + Custom Yaris (2008)
- Toyota Aygo Crazy (2008)
- Toyota Corolla (Road Test)
- Toyota iQ (2008)
- Toyota LandCruiser (Road Test)
- Toyota A-BAT Concept (2008)
- Toyota Landcruiser (2008)
- TRD Aurion (Road Test)
- Toyota Supra (2010)
- Toyota Tarago V6 (2010)