European Premiere of New Toyota Prius

The world's most advanced mainstream passenger car, Prius stands as a motor industry milestone in vehicle powertrain development. Successive generations of the model have showcased Toyota's commitment to environmentally conscientious forward-thinking and have led the company's advance towards the creation of the ultimate eco-car.

The new, third-generation Prius remains the undisputed reference point for mass-mobility hybrid technology, setting new standards in innovation, design and driving enjoyment. Ninety per cent of the components in the award-winning Hybrid Synergy Drive system have been redesigned, making it lighter and more compact, increasing power and reducing real-world fuel consumption. Operation in cold weather has also been improved.

Overall system power has been increased by 22 per cent, while fuel economy improved by 10 per cent and CO2 emissions reduced to just 89g/km.

Prius's striking new design is inspired by Toyota's ECO-ICON concept with an aerodynamically efficient exterior that has an exceptionally low drag coefficient, Cd 0.25. The interior has an innovative dual-dashboard design, housing a series of driver assistance features that are unique in Prius's class. These include a head-up display, a steering-wheel mounted Touch Tracer control to monitor and operate a range of equipment functions, a solar-powered ventilation system to keep the car cool when parked, and a new version of Toyota's Intelligent Parking System.

Credits: Jarvis