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Trend-Setting Design
The
Prius' design, by itself, has come to represent "hybrid" in the eyes of many.
The 106.3-inch wheelbase helps to give the Prius a smooth ride and the interior
room of a midsize sedan. Weight was saved through use of aluminum for the hood,
rear hatch, front stabilizer bar and brake calipers and by using super
high-tensile strength steel in the inner rocker panel, center pillar and roof
reinforcement.
The third-generation Prius received more hours of wind
tunnel testing than any other Toyota in history, resulting in one of the
cleanest aerodynamic profiles of any mass-produced vehicle in the world. By
focusing on the shape of the body, underfloor, wheelhouse liner and wheel face
design, the designers reduced the coefficient of drag (Cd) value to 0.25, one of
the lowest for any production car.
LEDs (light emitting diodes), optional
in low beam headlamps and standard in DRLs, tail and stop lamps, help reduce the
vehicle's power consumption. An exhaust heat recirculation system reduces heat
waste by warming engine coolant during cold startup, for improved performance.
It also heats up the passenger cabin more efficiently.
Interior Design
Viewed from the cockpit, the center cluster smoothly flows from the instrument
panel to the console. Simple, fin-type air vents and judicious use of silver
accents add a finished, technical feel. A space-saving contoured front-seat
design maximizes rear seat legroom.
The available Touch Tracer Display
features touch sensors on the steering wheel switches that are designed to
reduce driver eye movement for better concentration on the road. When the driver
touches the audio or trip switch located on the steering wheel, a duplicate
image is displayed on the instrument panel, directly in front of the driver.
Touch Tracer was the first display system in the world to allow steering wheel
controls to display in the instrument panel.
In pursuit of new
technologies for sustainable mobility, Toyota uses plant-derived, carbon-neutral
plastics in the third-generation Prius. Known as "ecological plastic," the new
material is used in the seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, inner and outer scuff
plates, and deck trim cover. Ecological plastic emits less CO2 during the
production process than conventional plastic; it also helps reduce petroleum
use.
Eco-Icon
The Toyota Prius - now synonymous with
"hybrid" -
entered the market in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The
company's exclusive Hybrid Synergy Drive System was introduced in 2004 on the
second-generation Prius. The Prius helped boost public awareness for the
automobile's role in the environment, specifically putting a focus on improving
fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
The 2012 Toyota Prius extends
its record of continuous improvement in fuel economy. The first-generation Prius
was estimated at 41 EPA combined MPG, and the second-generation model achieved a
46 MPG EPA combined rating. Toyota increased fuel efficiency for the
third-generation Prius to an EPA estimated 51 MPG in city driving, 48 MPG
highway and a combined 50 MPG. Mileage is especially improved in cold-start
conditions and at higher speeds.
Hybrid Synergy Drive
The Prius is
built using processes that reduce emissions in every stage of the vehicle
lifecycle, from production and driving, through to eventual disposal and
dismantling years down the road.
A 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle,
four-cylinder engine produces 98 horsepower at 5,200 rpm. Together with its
electric motor, the hybrid system generates a combined 134 net horsepower. Due
to the unique way that Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive combines the power of the
gasoline engine and electric motor, the driver experiences a feeling of torque
in the Prius that makes it feel even more powerful than the output numbers
suggest.
Use of an electric water pump and an exhaust gas recirculation
(EGR) system also contributes to the engine's efficiency. The 1.8-liter Prius
engine was the first Toyota powerplant that requires no accessory drive belts,
helping enhance powertrain efficiency and also potentially reducing maintenance
costs.
Prius has been an uncompromised "full" hybrid since its
introduction. This means it can run on the gasoline engine alone, battery alone,
or a combination of both. The Hybrid Synergy Drive was completely re-engineered
for the third-generation Prius, with lighter, more efficient components.
The 2012 Prius offers four driving modes ("Normal," "Power," Eco" and "EV"). The
EV Mode allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile, if
conditions permit. Power Mode increases sensitivity to throttle input for a
sportier feel; Eco Mode helps drivers achieve the best mileage. A
multi-information display panel that monitors fuel and energy consumption is
standard. It provides feedback on the Prius' efficiency using three different
displays to help the driver adopt economical driving habits.
The 2012
Prius is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) and an Advanced
Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) in California, as well as
those states applying California emission standards. The AT-PZEV certification
requires the SULEV exhaust standard linked with the ability to meet a
zero-fuel-evaporative standard, a 150,000-mile durability demonstration,
extended emissions system warranty, and technology deemed by the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) to advance future fuel cell vehicles. In the rest of the
country, Prius is certified as Tier 2, Bin 3.
Safety
The new Prius was designed to comply with class-top level
collision safety performance in each global sales region, and to accommodate
increasingly strict safety requirements in the future. In addition to a driver
and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, front and rear side curtain airbags,
driver and passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and driver's knee airbag
are standard equipment.
Active headrests are used in both front seats to
help reduce the possibility of whiplash injury in a rear collision. An Anti-lock
Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist
(BA), Traction Control (TRAC), enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and the
Smart Stop Technology brake-override system make up Toyota's standard Star
Safety System. A Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system, using advanced millimeter
wave radar, is an available option. Also available is Safety Connect, which
includes automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle locator, emergency
assistance button (SOS) and roadside assistance (1-year trial subscription
included).
Toyota Prius: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications