The legendary Toyota Prius has a power plant on the roof that will increase the range. Do you want to ride in it? You can! – AutoRevue.cz

For more than a quarter of a century, the Prius has left its mark on the Toyota brand as the first mass-produced electric car, setting the tone for the future. To date, Toyota has sold more than 23 million hybrid or plug-in electric vehicles worldwide, with the Prius alone accounting for more than five million.

The latest one means strengthening Toyota’s model range, which also includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs), to give everyone the widest choice possible.

Combining pure electric driving (EV) with the use of the latest hybrid technology gives the new plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius two characters. An electric range of up to 86 km thanks to a battery with a capacity of 13.6 kWh allows you to manage many daily needs without using the internal combustion engine. On long journeys or wherever charging is not possible, the new generation of plug-in hybrid storage with improved performance and carbon dioxide emissions.₂ 11 g/km – by far the lowest in this model range.

26 years on the road

Since its introduction in 1997, the Prius has been praised for its economy, but not necessarily for its drivability. However, the fifth generation of hybrid technology from Toyota hides surprising capabilities. A hybrid system generally brings greater driving pleasure due to increased performance and efficiency. The 2.0 combustion engine for the TNGA platform has a power of 112 kW and works together with a new electric motor with a power of 120 kW. The maximum power of the system is 164 kW. Compared to the previous one (90 kW), the new generation brings bold and powerful acceleration.

Power plant on the roof

Driving with great efficiency is confirmed by an optional solution in the form of photovoltaic cells on the roof of the car, which in one day generate electricity to extend the range of eight kilometers. The photovoltaic roof recharges the battery of the plug-in hybrid system without an intermediate step in the form of another photovoltaic battery, as was the case with the predecessor. The roof is now a little smaller, but thanks to the new photovoltaic cells, the overall efficiency has increased by more than 15%.

Iconic wedge

The Prius has always managed to impress with its eye-catching looks, but the latest generation is surprisingly stylish. The wedge shape of the body, which has been a common feature of Toyota Prius since the second generation, is attractive with modern curves in the new model. The silhouette of the body in the spirit of the coupe is now 50 millimeters lower, while the top step of the roof has been slightly moved back. The car also wears large tires measuring up to 19″.

The wheel, which has been widened by 50 millimeters compared to the previous generation, also contributes to the striking look. Overall, however, the car is now 46 millimeters shorter. Looking at the rear, a linear light element with a three-dimensional effect draws attention to the distinctive Prius logo.

Clean the interior

The spacious cabin combines fun behind the wheel with practicality in the form of a clean interior layout. The driver’s workplace is dominated by a 7-inch screen in the field of vision. The newly designed panel emphasizes comfort. The panel includes subtle climate controls and a low-profile main screen at the bottom, which provides access to Toyota’s latest cloud-based multimedia. system.

The improved front camera with radar covers a long detection distance and boasts a large field of view in both horizontal and vertical directions. It is therefore possible to recognize a large number of objects and detect a wider range of possible hazards, including motorcycles and objects on the side of the road.

Driving analysis

The new Toyota Prius comes with a number of features for easy driving, more economical driving and more fun behind the wheel. The new Predictive Drive Efficiency system contributes to reducing fuel consumption, which analyzes the driver’s usual routes and driving style and automatically optimizes the use of electric driving mode in favor of the lowest possible consumption.

In addition, based on data from navigation, it recognizes where the brakes are normally applied at speed, and uses automatic recovery more intensively to maximize the use of kinetic energy for recharging. When approaching a highway or a hill with high energy consumption demands, the system fully selects Hybrid Mode to ensure that the battery is recharged before electricity consumption increases, thus helping to reduce the actual consumption of the vehicle as a whole. With the additional data obtained and the increased number of kilometers driven, the system becomes more and more efficient, allowing more efficient use of the electric vehicle.

The trip ends in Prague

The Toyota roadshow, which started in September, will cross the finish line in December. And in Prague. On Monday, December 4, you can drive a Prius at Toyota Domanský in Zdiby and on Wednesday, December 6 at Toyota Louwman in Sárská 3. This will complete a series of twenty one stops in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, where Toyota offers everything. four types of alternative drives it currently offers.

Next to the Prius, it is the C-HR that represents the perfect hybrid drive. The battery electric car is represented by the Toyota bZ4X and the hydrogen electric car by the Mirai model. “During the road show, people learned about personal drives and technology. Salespeople and trained staff were nearby, as well as touch information boards explaining individual technology in detail.” says Michal Velička, marketing manager of Toyota CR.

Toyota 2023 Roadshow