Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius [ˈpri.əs] is a hybrid electric mid-size car developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation.

The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold in more than 40 countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan and North America.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the 2008 Prius is the most Production 1997–2001
Assembly Takaoka, later Motomachi, Japan[16]
Class Compact car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
Engine(s) Toyota Hybrid System
Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC I4
13.5:1 compression
43 kW (58 hp) @ 4000 rpm
102 N·m (75 ft·lbf) @ 4000 rpm
Electric: 288 V motor
30 kW (40 hp) @ 940 rpm
305 N·m (225 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
Wheelbase 2550 mm (100.4 in)
Length 4275 mm (168.3 in)
Width 1694 mm (66.7 in)
Height 1491 mm (58.7 in)

The 2001–2003 Prius for the United States market was powered by a 1.5-liter 4 cylinder gasoline engine, a permanent magnet AC electric motor, and a 274-volt nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack. The gasoline engine developed 70 hp (52 kW) and 82 ft·lbf (111 N·m) of torque. The electric motor generated a maximum of 44 hp (33 kW) and 258 ft·lbf (350 N·m) of torque. Japanese versions were less powerful.

The engine and motor power were increased over the previous model. Air conditioning and a continuously variable transmission were standard equipment.

In the United States, the NHW11 was the first Prius to be sold. The Prius was marketed between the smaller Echo and the larger Corolla. The published retail price of the car was US$19,995. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) classified the car as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV). European sales began in September 2000. The official launch of the Prius in Australia occurred in 2001 after the Sydney Motor Show.
2001–2003 Prius (model NHW11)
NHW11
Toyota Prius
Production 2000–2003
Assembly Toyota City (Motomachi), Japan
Class Compact car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
Engine(s) Toyota Hybrid System
Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC I4 VVT-i
13.0:1 compression
52 kW (70 hp) @ 4500 rpm
110 N·m (82 ft·lbf) @ 4200 rpm
Electric: 273.6 V motor
33 kW (44 hp) @ 1040 rpm
350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
SULEV
Transmission(s) 1-speed planetary gear
Wheelbase 2550 mm (100.4 in)
Length 4308 mm (169.6 in)
Width 1694 mm (66.7 in)
Height 1463 mm (57.6 in)
Curb weight 1254.2 kg (2765 lb)

The Prius is completely redesigned into a mid-size liftback which is between the Corolla and the Camry in size. The new model is 6 inches (150 mm) longer than the previous version.[27] Its more aerodynamic body resulted in a drag coefficient of 0.26.[28]

The new Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) uses an all-electric compressor for cooling. Combined with a smaller and lighter NiMH battery, the NHW20 is more powerful and more efficient than the NHW11.[29] Air conditioning is now operated independently of the gasoline engine, an industry first.[30] In the U.S., the battery pack of the 2004 Prius is warranted for 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 8 years, although Toyota has stated that they expect it to last 15 years. The warranty is instead 150,000 miles (240,000 km) or 10 years[31] for Prius in California, and in the seven Northeastern states that have adopted the stricter California emission control standards.
Taxi in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Taxi in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Prius Taxis are common in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. BC government has now proposed a regulation that requires all new taxis to be hybrids.

It is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle and is certified by California Air Resources Board as an "Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle" (AT-PZEV).[32]

NHTSA (United States) crash testing of the 2004 Prius yielded a five star driver and four star passenger rating in the frontal collision test (out of five stars). Side crash results were four out of five stars for both front and rear seats. The car scored four out of five stars in rollover testing. There was a massive 2 month waiting list for this car in the United Kingdom as they were only being produced outside Europe.[33]

In 2004, EuroNCAP tested the Prius. It earned the following ratings: Adult Occupant: 5/5 stars Child Occupant: 4/5 stars Pedestrian: 2/4 stars.[34]

Among the Prius' options are Toyota's implementation of an advanced key called Smart Key System or SKS (the feature can be user-deactivated), a backup camera displayed on the multi-function display (MFD), DVD navigation on the MFD, vehicle stability control and Bluetooth for hands-free calling. Automated parallel and reverse parking is available in Japan and Europe. [35]

Production of the Prius for the China market began in December 2005 by Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor, a joint venture with First Automobile Works. The Prius has been used for police duties and in other emergency fleets.

The 2006 model introduced some minor cosmetic changes, such as a higher-resolution liquid crystal display, as well as new optional features such as a rear-view camera, advanced airbags and an upgraded audio system with an auxiliary input. The 2007 Prius adds advanced and side-curtain airbags standard on all models. A Touring Edition was introduced that includes an elongated larger rear spoiler as well as larger, sharper-pointed 7-spoke 16" alloy wheels with plastic hub cap cover to protect it from scratches when parking against the curb. The Touring Edition also comes with a firmer European style tuned suspension, standard high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights and integrated (non-HID) fog lights.
2004–present Prius (model NHW20)
NHW20
Toyota Prius
Production 2004–2008
Assembly Tsutsumi, Japan (Toyota City)
Kariya, Aichi, Japan
Blue Springs, Mississippi (beginning in fall 2010)
Class Midsize car
Body style(s) 5-door hatchback
Engine(s) Toyota Hybrid System II
Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC I4 VVT-i
57 kW (76 hp) @ 5000 rpm
115 N·m (85 ft·lbf) @ 4200 rpm
Electric: 500 V
50 kW (67 hp) @ 1200 rpm
400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
AT-PZEV
Net power: 110 hp (82 kW)
Transmission(s) 1-speed planetary gear
Wheelbase 2700 mm (106.3 in)
Length 4450 mm (175.33 in)
Width 1725 mm (67.97 in)
Height 1490 mm (58.71 in)
Curb weight 1325 kg (2921 lb)
2006 Prius cut-away in Toyota showroom in Paris

Fuel consumption
Monitor on a 2005 Toyota Prius MFD, displaying accumulative fuel economy for 59 miles (95 km) since last gas fill-up.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test results must be posted on new vehicle windows, and are the only fuel consumption figures that can be advertised. EPA testing procedures for all vehicles were revised in 2007 in an attempt to better match what the average driver would achieve.[36] The following data is taken from these figures: 2008 Prius 48 mpg–U.S. (4.9 L/100 km / 57.7 mpg–imp) for city driving, 45 mpg–U.S. (5.23 L/100 km / 54 mpg–imp) for highway driving, 46 mpg–U.S. (5.11 L/100 km / 55.2 mpg–imp) combined; 2001 Prius 42 mpg–U.S. (5.6 L/100 km / 50.4 mpg–imp) city, 41 mpg–U.S. (5.74 L/100 km / 49.2 mpg–imp) highway.[37] The Prius is the most efficient car available in the U.S. in 2008, based on the official rating.

The Prius is the most fuel efficient car that Consumer Reports has tested[38], giving a real-world fuel consumption of 44 mpg–U.S. (5.35 L/100 km / 52.8 mpg–imp) for the Prius.
The LCD display on a 2005 Toyota Prius, displaying a fuel consumption average of 66.6 mpg–U.S. (3.53 L/100 km / 80 mpg–imp) after 88 miles (142 km).

In the United Kingdom there are eight cars on the market which are more fuel–efficient than the Prius on combined use. The official fuel consumption data, provided by the Department for Transport, rates the Prius as: 56.5 mpg–imp (5 L/100 km / 47 mpg–U.S.) urban, 67.3 mpg–imp (4.2 L/100 km / 56 mpg–U.S.) extra urban and 65.7 mpg–imp (4.3 L/100 km / 54.7 mpg–U.S.) combined.

Comparisons with other vehicles

Several publications have tested the fuel economy of the Prius and compared it directly with other cars.

Consumer tests have shown petrol-electric hybrid cars in general are little more efficient than top of the range diesels. It should be noted that diesel fuel has a significantly higher energy density than the gasoline used by the Prius.

The UK's Sunday Times did a comparison of the Prius with another car in long distance town and country driving.The results showed that the other car, a BMW 520d SE with a 177 bhp (132 kW) diesel engine and regenerative braking, averaged 50.3 mpg–imp (5.62 L/100 km / 41.9 mpg–U.S.) whilst the Prius averaged 48.1 mpg–imp (5.87 L/100 km / 40 mpg–U.S.) over exactly the same route. The comparison was performed on a journey of 545 miles (877 km) from London to Geneva, including 100 miles (160 km) of urban driving, about 200 miles (320 km) of driving on rural roads, and about 200 miles (320 km) of motorway driving at speeds of up to 78 miles per hour (126 km/h) on one French autoroute.

Auto Express magazine performed independent fuel efficiency tests, on public roads, on a number of hatchbacks, and in August 2007 published their list of the ten most efficient. The Prius achieved 10th place in the list, returning 41.5 mpg–imp (6.81 L/100 km / 34.6 mpg–U.S.). A Citroën C4 Coupé 1.6 HDi got 1st place with 49.6 mpg–imp (5.7 L/100 km / 41.3 mpg–U.S.).

The BBC television series Top Gear compared the fuel efficiency of a Prius driven at maximum speed around the track to a BMW M3 driven at the same pace. The Prius lost with 17.2 mpg–imp (16.42 L/100 km / 14.3 mpg–U.S.) vs 19.4 mpg–imp (14.56 L/100 km / 16.2 mpg–U.S.) for the M3 with a V8 engine.

Motor Trend magazine conducted a test comparing the Prius with a Honda Civic Hybrid. The Prius had the better fuel economy by 3.9 mpg–U.S. (60.31 L/100 km / 4.7 mpg–imp), achieving 43.8 mpg–U.S. (5.37 L/100 km / 52.6 mpg–imp) compared to 39.9 mpg–U.S. (5.9 L/100 km / 47.9 mpg–imp) for the Civic.[44] In a similar comparison performed by Edmunds.com, the Prius managed an additional 4.5 mpg–U.S. (52.27 L/100 km / 5.4 mpg–imp) at 48.3 mpg–U.S. (4.87 L/100 km / 58 mpg–imp).

In a Popular Mechanics magazine diesel versus hybrid comparison of February 2005, the Prius outperformed the Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI diesel in both city and highway fuel economy.

The Prius was the overall winner of the Edmunds.com "Gas-Sipper Smackdown" fuel economy test, winning three of the five tests. The VW Jetta TDI won two of the tests. The other cars tested were the Smart Fortwo and the North American Ford Focus.