Today, Toyota is proud to unveil the technological advances that enable its hybrid flagship to break the mold while still remaining true to form. The challenge from other hybrid models will help keep the overall hybrid option popular, and the challenge from electric cars and fuel cells will be limited for some time because of the need for infrastructure such as charging stations, he said.
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There’s no doubt that the Prius sparked a revolution.
The maker claims that, under ideal conditions, the petrol engine converts a remarkable 40 percent of the heat generated by combustion into power at the crankshaft, by improving gas flow and reducing losses to internal friction.
Toyota says that we’ll know more about the 2016 Toyota Prius exact power output and fuel-efficiency down the line, but for now it is contending that it is the most efficient vehicle on the market without a plug. “It should hold steady in terms of sales because the Prius has a strong fan base, but convincing non-hybrid shoppers to give it a try will be even more difficult than in the past”, he said. Standard bi-LED headlamps are fitted, which use a single lens for both high and low beam operation.
The instrument panel, with its thin, horizontal design and smooth surfaces, consolidates operational areas near the driver and places information areas further away.
“In order to minimize discomfort during long drives, Toyota has totally redesigned the Prius”.
The 2016 Prius still has a 1.8-liter engine, but it has been re-engineered. Among the improvements: A higher-capacity exhaust-gas-recirculation system, new intake ports, redesigned coolant passages, and lower-friction piston skirts, and it also now uses lower-viscosity oil. A new power control unit has resulted in 20 per cent lower losses in the new car’s electrical system, and the unit is smaller than before, allowing Toyota engineers to locate it above the transaxle. Both motors feature an innovative rolling-coil structure.
The auxiliary batteries have been moved from the trunk to the engine compartment and the relocation of the hybrid battery beneath the rear seats also helps free up more luggage space.
Two newly available batteries – a lithium-ion battery pack and a nickel-metal-hydride one – have increased energy density and are more space efficient than the outgoing units; Toyota says they now fit beneath the rear seat, increasing cargo space. With a more compact design, the unit can now be positioned directly above the transaxle. This recycles exhaust heat from the engine into the coolant to be reused in the heaters and to warm the engine.
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New safety features will include an upgraded active cruise control, pre-collision, intelligent park assists systems, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
