Hybrid Cars Information Future Green Cars

The 2010 Toyota Prius was officially unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January 2009. The third-generation Prius will be bigger and more powerful. The engine grew from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters—giving a boost in horsepower from 110 to 160—and the body will be three to four inches longer and about an inch wider. The combined US fuel economy rating will hit 50 mpg, by keeping the weight down to current levels and re-engineering the powertrain to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving.

The next Prius will not offer plug-in capabilities and will continue to use nickel metal hydride batteries, rather than switching to lithium ion batteries. The talk will continue about Toyota offering the Prius in a range of models—from compact to wagon to small SUV and pickup—but don’t expect those models to hit showrooms in 2009.

Toyota Prius Legacy

The Toyota Prius has sold more than all other hybrids combined—and for good reason. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003 (as a 2004 model), the midsize hatchback sedan has racked up award after award. The Prius continued to be a red-hot seller for years, until rapid drop in gas prices and the economic downturn took its toll.

The Toyota Prius inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers. Satisfaction rates, consistently at 98 percent, are unparalleled. Prius owners are already looking 20 years ahead, when they can claim with great pride, “Yes. I drove one of the first Priuses.”

The Prius drives like a charm, humming along silently in all-electric mode at low speeds and revving up its 110 combined gas-electric horsepower for a respectable 0-to-60 rate of 10.2 seconds.

Its stability control system makes it very safe. And the Prius, which had loads of bells and whistles, from keyless entry, a high-tech fuel use dash display, and a rear-view camera system, throws even more technology at the new model.

Prius Exterior

Toyota added a slightly sportier feel and more aggressive stance to the 2010 Prius—perhaps to disarm criticism that the Prius looks like a corrective appliance or a jellybean. The logo shifts from the hood to the top of the point of the grille. The crease in the doors has shifted lower, but a more pronounced angle is added above the door handles. The overall effect is to make the 2010 Prius stand taller—not as rounded and squat—as its predecessor. The 2010 model is a half-inch longer and a full inch wider than the previous generation.

The distinct space-age shape of the Prius is a deliberate statement on its next-generation approach to motoring. Its large, diamond-cut headlamps and snub-nose front-end are the starting point for the Prius’ pseudo-flying saucer appearance. Go ahead and look back at the sci-fi comic strips of the 40s and 50s and you’ll see exactly where Toyota got its inspiration. The angled hood seamlessly flows into the windshield, then to a flowing roofline that is sleek and low. Short overhangs and a sawed-off rear section finish off this hybrid’s futuristic character.

Of course, beauty is subjective, so the Prius has received mixed reviews on outward show. There are many who think the Prius looks gimmicky, if not entirely ugly. But for many hybrid owners, the distinctive look of the Prius sends a message, which declares that we must take steps to reduce our voracious thirst for oil—with all its negative consequences in terms of the environment and geo-politics. For this camp, the Prius is like a middle-finger-on-wheels aimed at Hummers, Suburbans, Escalades, and the like.

The toy and game-maker Hasbro recently added a game token in the shape of the Toyota Prius to the “here and now” version of Monopoly. In other words, the Prius is now officially an icon of our times. That distinction is earned because of the Prius’s technology, but also as a result of the look and style that is entirely its own.

Prius Interior

The success of the Toyota Prius is its ability to combine great fuel efficiency and utter practicality. Five adults can fit comfortably, with more than 16 cubic feet of cargo room left over in back. The 60/40 split rear seats also can be folded flat, creating a surprisingly large cargo space for hauling groceries, strollers, large boxes, and gardening supplies—all at the same time.

Short and tall drivers should feel equally comfortable behind the wheel. The back seat is roomy, beating the Toyota Camry by an inch and providing 2-1/2 inches more rear legroom than in the Civic Hybrid.

Interior storage spaces are abundant and flexible. The sound system is adequate, but not groundbreaking compared to other cars in this class. The stereo’s most-used functions are easy to see, read and use.

Many of the Prius’s standard features are either optional or unavailable on comparably priced competitive vehicles. Standard features include cloth seating, automatic, micron-filter air-conditioning, power windows, door locks, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. The optional navigation system, which is the best on the market, comes equipped with Bluetooth technology allowing drivers with Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to use the speakers and microphones for hands-free calling. Remote switches for the audio, climate and cruise controls are conveniently mounted on the steering wheel.

The most distinguishing feature of the Prius is the “Power” push-button—rather than a key to turn—and the joystick shifter which bounces back in place after selecting “D” to drive. These features are intuitive and partly contribute to the fun of driving the Prius—along with the large dashboard Energy Monitor, which shows the power flow between the hybrid battery pack, electric motor and gasoline engine.

Some Prius drivers complain that the hatchback design limits the visibility through the rear window. They refer to this drawback as the “Prius blind spot.” It makes some people crazy and is a non-issue for others. You have to take a test drive to see how it feels to you.