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The new Prius+ makes its debut at the 2011
Geneva motor show, representing further expansion of Toyota’s Prius
family. It is the first full hybrid model in Europe to offer seven
seats, combining family friendly versatility with strong environmental
performance and advanced technology.
As its name suggests, Prius+ provides a
significant increase in space and passenger accommodation compared to
its sister hatchback model. There are three independent, split-folding
second row seats and a 50:50 split-folding third row. In spite of the
increase in size, it retains the fundamental performance benefits
associated with Prius, including the lowest fuel consumption of any
seven-seater on the market.
Set to go on sale during the first half
of 2012, Prius+ is a new vehicle, designed from the ground up. Its
exterior represents an evolution of the established Prius design, rather
than simply being an elongated version of the standard model.
The look of the new car is
characterised by its extended roofline with an integrated panoramic
(fixed) sunroof. It retains the Prius triangular silhouette and achieves
a Cd 0.29 drag coefficient. The trapezoidal front end incorporates
sharp-edged headlamps, flat, vertical ‘aero’ corners that reduce air
turbulence, and an enlarged lower grille to improve aerodynamics and
engine cooling.
The rear of the car features a
top-hinged tailgate, intricate lamp clusters and a roof spoiler that
further manages smooth airflow.
Prius+ is equipped with the latest
generation of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive and is the first Toyota
non-plug-in hybrid to use a lithium-ion battery pack. The compact
dimensions of this battery – first introduced in Prius Plug-in – allow
it to be contained entirely beneath the second row seats, which means
passenger and loadspace and the vehicle’s interior flexibility are
unaffected.
As in the standard Prius, Prius+
features three ‘on-demand’ drive modes so that capabilities of the
hybrid powertrain can be fully exploited. EV mode allows the car to be
driven on electric motor power alone, resulting in zero fuel consumption
and tailpipe emissions; ECO mode maximises hybrid system efficiency and
fuel economy, while POWER mode sharpens response and boosts performance.
Toyota
Prius Plug-in
Toyota also aims to bring Prius Plug-in to the global market in the
second half of 2012 and in preparation for this around 600 vehicles are
currently taking part in demonstration lease programmes worldwide,
including 20 in London. These projects are designed to assess every
aspect of real-world use and verify the car’s overall environmental and
technological performance before going on sales
Initial feedback from European lease
project customers is very encouraging. Most of those surveyed have
reported that the car exceeds their expectations, in many cases by a
significant degree. Two thirds have expressed themselves fully satisfied
with the car’s EV driving range, which in real-world testing has
exceeded nine miles. |
