Andrea Formica, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Europe
The new Prius is setting new standards in innovation, design and driving enjoyment. Its next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive system features comprehensive improvements to the award-winning powertrain. Ninety per cent of the hybrid drive components have been redesigned to create a lighter, more compact system, with a focus on increased power, further reductions in real-world fuel consumption and improved cold weather operation.
System power has been increased by 22 per cent to 134bhp, fuel economy improved by 10 per cent to 72.4mg and CO2 emissions reduced by 14 per cent to just 89g/km.
The third-generation Prius should not be seen as a niche model to be evaluated only against specialised criteria. Despite delivering CO2 emission levels below A and B-segment cars, its on-road performance and dynamic abilities bear comparison with any D-segment competitor. Continued customer approval is witnessed in Prius’s top ranking in J.D. Power and Associates’ UK, French and German customer satisfaction surveys over the last two years.
New Prius has a striking, ECO-ICON concept vehicle-inspired design with an exceptionally low drag coefficient, Cd 0.25. The ergonomically advanced interior features an innovative dual-zone dashboard design and a number of driver assistance technologies that are unique in the segment, including a head-up display, Touch Tracer display, solar ventilation and Intelligent Parking Assist.
