In one fell swoop, Toyota has expanded its Prius hybrid family count to four, with the debut of the Prius c Concept and Prius v at the NAIAS in Detroit. The twinkly twosome join the existing third-generation Prius and Prius Plug-In Hybrid, which is already undergoing field evaluation in the US selectively.
The big ticket item is of course the Prius v, since the c Concept is still a ways away from market reality. Essentially, the Prius v – with the v standing for versatility – is a larger ZVW30 (or XW30, if you go by the current designation for it), sitting on the same platform and continuing to seat five, but offering over 50% more cargo space than the latter.
Ditto the pot, which is the same 2ZR-FXE 1.8 litre Atkinson cycle unit, offering 98 hp at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,000 rpm; together with the permanent magnet synchronous motor electric drivetrain’s 80 hp, the combined total output is 134 hp, identical to the ZVW30’s.
Still, Toyota says the v is a new vehicle designed from the ground up, with a shape and style that has evolved from the current Prius rather than being an elongated version of it. Nonetheless, one can’t help but feel it’s evolution rather than revolution.
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Shape-wise, the v looks very much more rounded off than the ZVW30, but retains Prius cues well enough. The trapezoidal-shaped front features sharp-edged headlamps, wind-slipping aero corners for improved aerodynamics and an enlarged under grille, which all help create a unique design evolving from the current Prius.
At the back, the styling is highlighted by a refined backdoor panel, intricate combination taillights and a specially designed roof spoiler that improves air flow. Two wheel sizes are available – 16-inch as standard (with 205/60 series tyres), 17-inch as an option,
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Inside, things get a bit more of a different tack. Certainly, interior space is up, with improved occupant to occupant distance, especially fore-aft, and of course the cargo space volume is up from the existing Prius.
Elsewhere, the cabin features a more refined dashboard presentation, though the general layout is retained. The centre stack has become a whole lot imposing, and that bit busier. The driving controls – including the Push Button Start, parking switch, electronic shift lever, and driving mode selection – are distinguished by silver trim.
The Prius v features a Toyota-first, which is a resin Panoramic View moonroof with power retractable sun shades, providing an open atmosphere in the cabin with a 40% percent reduction in weight compared to conventional glass roofs of the same size.
Like the ZVW30, the Prius v has four driving modes (Normal, Power, Eco and EV), and as far as features go, there’s a smart key system with Push Button Start, an electronic shift lever, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) and a reverse camera as standard fitment. Options include energy-efficient LED headlamps, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) and Advanced Parking Guidance System.
Other features and functions include Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), ABS and EBD, and the car also features the standard Smart Stop Technology brake-override system.
When it goes on sale in the US in the late summer of this year, American Prius v models will come wearing an Entune multimedia system, which offers a richer in-vehicle experience with fully integrated and wireless upgradeable navigation, entertainment and information services.
Gallery of hi-res photos after the jump.
[zenphotopress number=999 album=1861]
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In Love !! But the normal prius looks better!!
looks like a wish!
Nice an alternative to the Wish if it gets here
Ooo…actually it is Toyota ‘Vish’ using Prius heart.
so big
exterior nice!
interior… the dashboard like ‘GABAN’… to crowd…
very much like a hybrid version of caldina
Priuses are undeniably hi-tech and jammed-pack with technology, but somehow, I never quite like the design……it looks weird for some reason…..
since toyota had spend a lot of R&D cost on hybrid technologies, just build various of hybrid car range which sharing the same technologies to gain more profit de..
not only to gain more profit but also to weigh out the cost used in R&D, those R&D must have burnt hole in their pocket.
one can easily fool by the looks as a 7 seater.. nice anyway..
NICE.. !! BETTER THAN PRIUS .. MAKE IT AN MPV .. FIT IT WITH 2 SEATS AT THE REAR
The interior middle console looks so ugly.
hehehehe…. Surely it may take another 1-2 years only will launch in our country…
Good to see it…
Hope the pricing is reasonable as well..
Ya, lampu depan and belakang macam ini barulah cun.
I always said the current Prius is UGLY. This new one is much better in look.
In terms of body design, Prius V is nicer than normal Prius…
Toyotas have good rear-end design for most of its cars in my opinion, but for the front-end, they got to work harder, anyway, nice interior design.
Just my 2 posen.
simply awesome !!!
Pity no 3rd row seat.
Yeah, agree. Then it would have been more versatile. Wanna carry extra stuff can, and if wanna carry extra people also can. But now all it essentially is; is a Prius with a bigger boot.
looks like a wish..
Hopefully more hybrid models will be available, I think in MY, Honda and Toyota are selling these cars at premium pricing. If duty free, prices sb comparable to US and yet, if you check, Honda Insight (USD18K to 22K) and Prius from (USD22K to 28K) on Yahoo website, MY prices still seem excessive. Will make in Thailand hybrids drive prices down??
one fact that many often overlook is that MITI (Ministry of International Trade something…) have the final say in foreign car pricing… for example, UMWT wanted to sell the VIOS J grade for 60k, but was denied by MITI, so now its 70k…
So look at the P1 P2 pricing, then u could expect what the price of other foreign cars gonna be like, where the car being build wont effect the pricing (for tax exempted cars anyway)
SOOOOOOOOO Disappointing, i was hoping for PRIUS MPV after all the hoohaa……but end up with a PRIUS WAGON……another cost saving measure from toyota to sell facelifted recond WISH………
toyota Wish izzit????
toyota Wish ?????
looks dated, come on…where ‘ve the good designers gone??
ah should change the name to Prius U and U for Ugly
Mark Wahlberg on the Prius : “I literally feel like im sitting in a giant vagina”
Kia KV7 is 100X better than this….both in design and tech….
this is so old school car
a hybrid wish?…haha. great if it come to Malaysia though…
a hybrid wish? great if it come to Malaysia though…
the good designers have somehow all ended up in Korea for now….gosh..i never thought there will come a day i would actually say that…..
Panel tgh mantap,design stering pun cantik…tp secara overall agak buruk interiornye…x tau la ape yg terjd ngn toyota sejak akhir2 nie…design dah ngarut2 jerk…bermula ngn toyota vios DUGONG smpai la yg baru nie….Nyundai ngn kia lg cantik…nissan pun lg ngancam…
At least the latest “fuel efficiency technology” is there. That’s the most important thing. Sometimes we tend to forget the dull design is compensate with better fuel consumption.
Not interesting interior or dull interior (or should I say light materials) means the designer is trying to cut-off the weight of the material used for interior works. Less external styling (vagina-look as Mark Whalberg might say in “The Other Guys” movie) means that the car sacrifice looks for better aerodynamic with that FC (again) in mind.
This is a very promising fuel-efficient MPV if it ever to hit Malaysia shores. Let’s just hope Toyota pricing (and government’s green tax exemption) will make this MPV affordable to most Malaysians.