Toyota Prius updated
Home >
News >
Toyota
Recent new car releases ..... here
Upcoming new car releases ..... here
3rd April, 2012
Toyota has refined the quality, performance, appeal and value of the
Prius, the world's best-selling hybrid car.
The 2012 Toyota Prius comes with higher equipment levels and improved ride quality, steering feel and vehicle dynamics
as well as updated styling.
In addition to the upgrades and added features, Toyota has made Prius $1,000 more affordable at $33,990* - $6,000 below
the price of the first-generation Prius when it was launched more than a decade ago.
Even the high-grade Prius i-Tech maintains its $45,990* price with the addition of substantial extra specification.
Prius now has a reversing camera on the entry-level car with the image viewed on a 6.1-inch EGA colour display.
The new model also incorporates daytime running lamps, power retractable mirrors and the power-saving JBL GreenEdge
sound system with eight speakers.
The Prius i-Tech gains 17-inch alloys as standard with solar moonroof, an eight-way power driver's seat, seven-inch
VGA colour screen, hard-disk drive satellite navigation, digital radio and new leather-accented interior trim.
The revised front of Prius reflects Toyota's new design approach, while the cabin has new front seats, new upholstery
and new soft-touch surfaces that combine to give a higher-quality feel.
Increased comfort and steering feel have been produced through a stiffer body and changes to the suspension and
steering column.
Prius sales globally have surpassed 2.5 million, including more than 17,000 in Australia.
Over the next few months the Prius line-up will expand in Australia with the introduction of the compact Prius c city
car and Prius v, the world's first seven-seat full hybrid car.
New styling
Prius embraces Toyota's new, more assertive design approach with a stronger focus on the lower part of the car's front
end. A new bumper and a larger, trapezoidal lower grille give the vehicle a low and wide look. LED daytime running lights
have been placed in the bumper beneath the turn indicators, while the fog lights were repositioned within the lower
grille.
New power-folding heated door mirrors, new rear-combination lamps and newly designed 15-inch alloy wheels and covers
are also part of the revised Toyota Prius.
The styling changes add an extra 20 mm to the car's length, but the wheelbase and highly efficient aerodynamic
performance (Cd 0.25) are unchanged.
New colours are Dynamic Blue and Scarlet, for a total of eight.
Interior
Inside, the look and feel of the trim, surfaces and upholstery raise the perception of quality.
The front seats offer better support and provide a more comfortable ride, with eight-way power adjustment for the
high-grade driver's seat.
Toyota's attention to detail can be seen in the redesign of the centre console, which now has a built-in cup holder
that can be used without having to open the console lid.
The 12V power socket, USB port and AUX audio input terminal have been moved to the front of the console for easier
access.
New, darker materials are used throughout with silver inserts on the centre console and air vents. The hybrid system
start button is now blue.
The multi-information display has been revised with sharper image resolution, making the readouts easier to view.
New functions include a monthly fuel consumption record with a rolling archive of five months' data and an ECO
savings calculator.
The calculator works by the driver inputting a target consumption figure and fuel price; the system records the
driving time during which consumption is lower than the target and calculates a monthly saving compared with the
expected fuel cost.
|
|
|
Self-Catering Holiday
Accommodation in
Denmark, WA
..... more
|
|
|
Body and suspension
The Prius body has been made stiffer by increasing the number of welding spots and reinforcements. Increased rigidity
allows for softer suspension tuning, which improves ride comfort without diminishing the car's dynamic abilities.
Redesign of the bracing has also made the steering column more rigid, which has the effect of giving the driver better
steering feel.
Additional sound-proofing materials have improved noise and vibration levels in the cabin.
Fuel economy and emissions
Prius has maximum power of 100 kW from the hybrid system which combines a beltless and highly efficient 1.8-litre
petrol engine, a 650-volt electric motor/generator and a 201.6-volt nickel-metal hydride battery.
With a full hybrid powertrain, Prius continues to deliver low CO2 emissions at 89 grammes/km. It also delivers
outstanding fuel efficiency at 3.9 litres/100 km. Figures quoted are for the "combined cycle".
Prius technologies
Every Prius retains technologies that improve safety by providing 'at-a-glance' information, reducing the need for
driver eye movement to allow better concentration on the road.
A head-up display provides speed and other information on the windscreen in the driver's line of sight.
When the driver touches the audio or information controls on the steering-wheel hub, Toyota's world-first touch tracer
system displays a duplicate read-out on the instrument panel.
The multi-information display monitors fuel and energy consumption, providing feedback that helps the driver employ
economical driving habits.
Other standard safety features include seven airbags, stability and traction control, active front head restraints and
anti-skid brakes.
In addition to driving like a conventional car, the hybrid system in Prius offers three driver-controlled modes: EV
(electric vehicle), ECO and Power.
In EV, the vehicle stays in electric-only mode for longer at lower speeds. The vehicle can operate up to about 50 km/h
for approximately 1-2 km, depending on the state of charge.
In ECO, the throttle is managed for fuel economy and the air-conditioning is strictly controlled.
Power mode provides maximum acceleration response.
As with its predecessor, the new range is covered by Toyota Service Advantage with services capped at $130 for each of
up to six standard services in the first three years or 60,000 km (conditions apply and rental cars and government fleet
vehicles are excluded).
NOTE: * Manufacturer's List Price (MLP) excludes dealer delivery fees and the numerous statutory
charges (commonly known as on-road costs). Additionally, please note that all prices, fees and charges are
subject to change without notice, as are the specifications.
| 
