To go before. To go beyond. In its third
generation, the 2010 Toyota Prius builds on its eco-techno base to provide more
power, more mpg and more futuristic features.
Take, for
example, the optional solar moonroof that helps keep drivers from losing their
cool. While the car is parked, solar panels power a ventilation fan that reduces
the temperature inside. As owners approach their car, they can tamp down the
temp even more by flipping on the A/C with an available key fob.
It's the kind of
option that should appeal to the technologically savvy as well as the simply
sweaty. In other words, the broad customer base that Prius needs to remain the
best-selling hybrid in the world.
Toyota Division Group Vice President and General
Manager Bob Carter helped introduce the 2010 Toyota Prius at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 12.
"The features
and performance of the new midsize 2010 Toyota Prius are superior to anything we
have ever built," Carter said. "And along with building a better car, we will
make it available in more places. We plan to sell this new 2010 Toyota Prius in
80 countries worldwide, nearly twice as many as today."
The new model
arrives in U.S. showrooms this spring, equipped with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder
engine that pumps up performance. The 2010 Toyota Prius zips from zeo to 60 mph
in 9.8 seconds in internal testing, compared to 10.9 seconds for its
predecessor.
Fuel efficiency also improves, thanks to advances
in design and technology. An aerodynamic stretched silhouette, along with
underbody covers, minimizes air resistance, reducing the drag cofficient from
.26 to .25. A new exhaust heat collection system uses engin collant to extract
exhaust hear, improving engine warm-up time and increasing start-up fuel
economy.
A redesigned gas tank not only simplifies the
fueling system but also sheds weight. In fact, the entire hybrid system weighs
less.
As a result, of the changes, the new 2010 Toyota
Prius is expected to get an EPA-estimated combined rating of 50 miles per
gallon, four more than the current generation.
Size also
shifts. While exterior dimensions are comparable to the current model, the
interior is more spacious, thanks to a smaller batter control module and other
space savers. The cargo area cradles three golf bags instead of two.
Of course, the
2010 Toyota Prius' propensity for "green" goes well beyond a golf green.
Plant-derived "Ecological Plastics" are used in seat cushion foam, trim and
scuff plates. Then there's the new cool exhaust gas recirculation system that
cycles some exhaust gas back into the engine, reducing certain emissions. It's
another potent pairing of eco and techno that should help the 2010 Toyota Prius
clean up in the expanding hybrid vehicle market.
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