Details of the next-generation Toyota Prius previewed

Toyota_Hybrid_family

It has been officially confirmed that the next-generation Toyota Prius will adopt the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), while advances in battery, electric motor and petrol engine technology will secure better fuel economy, reduced emissions and lower costs from a smaller, lighter and more efficient hybrid powertrain system.

Toyota looks to improve upon its average CO2 emissions reduction of 10% over each of the Prius’ three generations so far (from 114 g/km to today’s 89 g/km). The next Prius will use smaller electric motors, but with a higher power density. The current model’s motors have four times the power density of the original Prius’ in 1997, and the improvement will be higher still in the next one.

Regarding the batteries, they too will shrink in size but grow in energy density. Toyota is currently ramping up its research, development and production capacity for both nickel metal-hydride and lithium-ion technologies, while studying future alternatives of solid state, lithium-air as well as magnesium and other low-valence materials.

Toyota-Prius-003

The thermal efficiency of the petrol engine will be boosted too, from 38.5% currently to a world-best of more than 40%. There will still be two versions of the Prius: a standard full hybrid model and a plug-in hybrid option. The latter is now developed in parallel with the former, and promises better all-electric driving range and a more convenient charging solution, i.e. a wireless/inductive charger.

TNGA, meanwhile, is Toyota’s new highly flexible and scalable platform, similar in execution to the Volkswagen Group’s MQB architecture. The next Prius will debut the new base, which will eventually be rolled out across various Toyota and Lexus models (from the Yaris supermini to the next Camry – SUVs included – reports say).

In the fourth-generation Prius, the use of TNGA promises a lower centre of gravity and greater structural rigidity, contributing to “greatly improved” driving dynamics. The interior will also be larger, with a more refined design, layout and ease of use, while the exterior is said to feature all-new styling – harnessed with aerodynamic performance in mind.

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • Star Dust on Sep 02, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Hidden due to lowcomment rating. Click here to see.

    Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 176
    • urgento on Sep 02, 2013 at 11:00 pm

      Where is sam loo? You don’t want to promote this car when the petrol price increased?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 25
      • Sam Loo on Sep 07, 2013 at 1:08 am

        Good Cars don’t need to promote like cold door kimchis

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 66 Thumb down 162
    • alldisc on Sep 03, 2013 at 8:42 am

      only stupid ppl will say Prius is about to save fuel.

      when the actual reason it was designed was reducing carbon footprint of a family sedan. prius was the effect of heavily polluted cities like Tokyo, London, Paris, New York and California.

      fuel saving is actually the bonus.

      this is why the reason California gazzetted only LEV and ZEV vehicles can only be sold or, if not mistaken used in the city.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 12
      • frenzyaustin on Sep 03, 2013 at 12:24 pm

        Tokyo is heavy polluted? I thought Tokyo is the most least polluted developed city among all.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
  • jolly_idiot on Sep 02, 2013 at 6:26 pm

    Still prefer the european way to camouflage the car. More efficient and environmentally friendly.

    This prius uses too many fabric and tailor made cover sheet.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 30
    • kadajawi on Sep 02, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      But the Japanese way is better at covering up the actual design.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 1
    • some people just seem to hate toyota so much as if toyota took his girlfriend away, until he has to complain about the camoflage method when he can’t find any other aspects to criticise. Rite, fashion adviser?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 49 Thumb down 1
  • koochai on Sep 02, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    toyota should make their hybrids more attractive to the masses (design wise)…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 15
    • kadajawi on Sep 02, 2013 at 8:00 pm

      The reason why the Prius is so efficient on highways is aerodynamics. It is simply a very aerodynamic car. Making a car very aerodynamic and pretty AND practical is very hard. Look at the VW 1 liter car. It is hideous. The Insight has a similar basic shape to the Prius, cause it is the most aerodynamic one. Btw. they also have a similar shape to the Citroen SM and XM (both also very aerodynamic and fuel saving at high speeds… for an old V6…), but those were much larger cars with long bonnets making them look less awkward.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  • Chris on Sep 02, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    Does anyone have any figures on solar panel output? If we’re talking efficiency I might as well like to see solar cells embed into the roof/trunk lid of the car.

    I park my car under the sun for 9 hours a day at work, if that is enough to extend mileage by 3 KM (powers the fan/light/radio/charge battery), I’d want that 3KM.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
    • kadajawi on Sep 02, 2013 at 11:16 pm

      http://www.teslamotors.com/fr_CA/forum/forums/what-potential-solar-panel-model-s

      Won’t make much difference I’m afraid. You’d probably be better off buying a plug-in hybrid and installing solar panels on your house.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Mamatwhyla on Sep 02, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    Minyak naik story?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Fahmi on Sep 02, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    Minyak naik better rush to buy this one… BMW 320d? Diesel also naik maa…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • It’s ‘ultraman brothers’ family up there :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Painter on Sep 03, 2013 at 11:04 am

    Why no plan for plug-in hybrid in Malaysia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • its true on Sep 03, 2013 at 2:42 pm

      From that line-up I can imagine of :-
      Proton Suprima Hybrid
      Proton Preve Hybrid
      Proton Saga EV
      Proton Savvy Hybrid
      Proton Persona Hybrid
      Proton Exora Hybrid
      IS COMING SOON!!!!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
  • Elchino on Sep 03, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    When can we expect this new Prius to be launched in Malaysia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
 

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