2016 Prius

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That is my fear as well! The current beauty (to me) is in the simplicity of the design and the mostly gentle following curves. That could be ruined by sharp angles and huge concaves.

I agree. I've always been a fan of the semi-aggressive aerodynamic clean and curvy compact look. The FR-S is the best balance of that style I have seen for a long time.

[vh_supra26]

Click here to view more photos

Toyota details US-spec Prius in mega gallery, prices it from $24,200

Toyota has released a massive high-res gallery of the 2016 Prius in US specification that will be available to order from $24,200.

Some ironically call it the Pontiac Aztek of our time, but the Japanese company says its ?modern, dramatic? and ?emotional?, featuring a familiar shape. The new Prius is longer, lower, and wider than its predecessors and offers more interior room.

Toyota claims the 2016 Prius has estimated fuel economy ratings of 54/50/52 (city/highway/combined mpg) (final EPA figures pending), while a new Eco grade will bring ever better fuel consumption of 58/53/56.

The new Prius will be among the first U.S. models to offer Toyota Safety Sense P, a multi-feature safety package that includes automatic pre-collision braking, lane departure alert with steering assist, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams.

The hybrid vehicle will be offered in six trim levels with the entry-level Two model coming with a starting price of $24,200. Next on the list is the Two Eco ($24,700), followed by the Three ($26,250), Three Touring ($28,100), Four ($28,650), and Four Touring ($30,000) grades.

?This Prius will invite new drivers into the category by delivering an impressive look and feel, built on the foundation of safety and eco-consciousness that define the vehicle?s heritage,? Bill Fay, Toyota Division vice president and general manager, commented.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11511191...it-from-24-200

This Is Why Toyota Offers Two Different Battery Options In The New Prius

The reveal of the new Toyota Prius included the news that the Japanese manufacturer will offer their main hybrid model with two battery choices, without a real-world, practical distinction between the two.

Toyota either installs a lithium-ion or a nickel-metal hydride battery pack into the new Prius, with their specs being basically the same, offering the same performance and with the same benefits on the fuel economy.

The reason behind this choice is because the lithium-ion battery pack, which equips the higher-trimmed models, is 16kg lighter than the nickel-metal hydride, enabling Toyota to add 16kg of extra kit into the more expensive models and still get the same fuel economy with the cheaper ones as Kouji Toyoshima, Toyota?s chief engineer of the Prius confessed to AutoNews.

Toyota wanted all Prius models to offer around the same fuel consumption, despite the small weight differences between models in the range, and that?s what drove them to that decision.

Toyota says that the US-market Prius Two Eco version offers 53mpg in combined city-highway driving, with the other five trim levels EPA-rated at 50mpg. Models in Europe are rated at 94.2mpg UK (3.0lt/100km) combined fuel economy while Japan?s less demanding testing cycle rates the hybrid?s latest generation at 40km/lt (2.5lt/100km-94mpg US-112mpg UK) with the latter?s conversions to be indicative rather than accurate due to the nature of Japan?s procedure.

The two, rear-mounted battery packs have around the same cost for Toyota because the lithium-ion item features just 56 cells, compared with the 168 cells of the nickel-metal hydride one. Voltage is the same, 207.2 volts for the lithium-ion and 201.6 volts for the nickel-metal hydride.

They even have roughly the same size, with the lithium being 30.5 litres in size and the nickel-metal measuring 35.4 litres. As for those who think that the latter is old tech when compared with the lithium-ion, Toyota says that their latest nickel-metal battery is 2.4 per cent lighter, 10 per cent smaller and recharge 28 per cent faster than before.

This whole thing might be driven by Toyota?s decision to offer the same fuel economy across the range of the new Prius, but we can?t help but wonder how much higher mpg a stripped-down Eco version with the Lithium-ion battery could get.

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/11/thi...28CARSCOOPS%29

[vh_supra26]

The extensively updated Toyota Prius may have only been introduced a couple of months ago, yet already tuning company TOM's Racing has previewed its upcoming bodykit and tuning upgrades for the popular hybrid.

Understandably, TOM's Racing has decided to add some much needed aggression to the 2016 Prius and has done just that with the updated front end.

Toyota's all-new hybrid sports a custom bumper as well as blacked-out elements surrounding the daytime running lights that give off the impression of being air intakes.

Additionally, the tuner has elected to install a new front lip spoiler which doesn't only make the hybrid significantly more menacing but also perfectly complements the rest of the visual modifications. At the sides, extended skirts have been fitted as have a set of large alloy wheels.

The changes are completed at the rear with a new bumper, bold diffuser and, rather amusingly, quad stacked tailpipes similar to those of the Lexus IS F and Ferrari California.

Rounding off the initial upgrades is a lowered suspension. At this stage, TOM's Racing hasn't announced whether it intends to tune the 121 hp hybrid powertrain of the Prius or not.

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/12/tom...ew-toyota.html

TRD Enhances New Toyota Prius With Some JDM Goodies

TRD’s body-kit offering makes the Prius more aerodynamic and almost pleasant to look at.

A couple of months ago, we stumbled upon a brochure showcasing multiple interesting aftermarket-mods for the Prius. One of the “tuners” was none other than Toyota’s own TRD division, presenting its take on how the new hybrid should look. But, as you’ll see, TRD’s visual enhancements are far more efficient-focused than initially thought.

Offered in two distinctive variants, the body kits are composed from the usual bits and pieces; but what makes them interesting, is that both versions were engineered based on a CFD analysis (Computational fluid dynamics), after adjusting the airflow to improve straight-line stability and increase downforce.

The add-ons are made from PPE and ABS plastic, and include a front spoiler, side skirts, trunk spoiler, rear bumper and a new set of aluminum 18-inch TRD TF8 wheels with tire set. The body kits may appear to be similar, but each one sports its unique style; for instance, Ver.1 has LED daytime running lights integrated into the spoiler.

Of course, a TRD kit isn’t complete if it doesn’t come with some mechanical improvements as well, and it comes as no surprise to learn that the company offers motion control beams, high response mufflers, member brace sets and a suspension set.

The price for a basic visual upgrade costs roughly $2,876 in Japan and it goes up as you tick more optional equipment.

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/12/trd...-some-jdm.html

[vh_supra26]

More Prius than ever before.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J_UqP2Dp4w[/ame]

Have you ever had a cronut? These crispy fried pastries meld the tender flakiness of a croissant with the deep fried decadence of a doughnut, creating a sweet treat that’s unlike anything else in your baker’s display case. Go ahead and try to find something similar. Even on a good day, that soggy, week-old baklava he’s been hawking is a poor substitute.

Twenty-odd years ago, Toyota began developing a cronut of its own, an automotive half breed that blends the attributes of a traditional gasoline-powered car with the those of an electric vehicle. By combining an internal-combustion engine with a high-capacity battery pack and an electric motor, they essentially invented the modern hybrid. Like a delicious half-breed pastry, the company’s Prius was born.

FAST FACTS
Engine: 1.8-liter four-cylinder with an integrated electric motor. Total system output measures 121 horsepower
Transmission: Electronically controlled continuously variable automatic
Fuel Economy: Standard Models -- 54 miles per gallon city, 50 highway, 52 combined. Eco Variant – 58 city, 53 highway, 56 combined
Pricing: The Prius Two starts at $25,035 including $835 in delivery fees

Little did they know at the time it would eventually became a global sensation. To date, more than 3.5 million of them have been delivered since it first went on sale in Japan nearly two decades ago.

Continuing to evolve the successful formula it laid down all those years ago, the company just released its all-new fourth-generation Prius, which is taking a bow for the 2016 model year.

Foundational Changes
This car has been completely overhauled from stem to stern, keel to crow’s nest. About the only thing that’s gone unchanged is the name and wheelbase, which curiously measures an identical 106.3 inches. This is unusual, since the 2016 Prius is built on a never-before seen platform.

It’s the first vehicle to ride atop Toyota’s New Global Architecture, TNGA in corporate shorthand. This platform graces the car with 60 percent greater torsional stiffness than its predecessor along with myriad other benefits this engenders, from enhanced ride and handling attributes to greater safety.

Helping deliver this foundation-rivaling sturdiness, the Prius’ structure is comprised of 19 percent high-strength steel, up from just 3 percent in the outgoing model.

Dimensionally this car has grown in every direction save height, where’s its actually shrunk by about one inch. Overall the car is about 2.5 inches longer and more than half an inch broader.

These changes increase space for both occupants and cargo; people and parcels should both be happier in the 2016 Prius. Models not equipped with a spare tire have more than 27 cubic feet of storage in the aft hold when the rear seats are folded flat.

Technical Tour de Force
The outgoing model is motivated by a hybrid drivetrain that’s centered around a 1.8-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine. And that’s precisely what’s found under the hood of the all-new 2016 Prius, except not exactly.

The car still features a 1.8-liter internal-combustion powerplant but it’s been totally overhauled. The intake ports and coolant passages have been redesigned, internal friction has been slashed, it runs a lower viscosity oil to further cut parasitic losses and it even benefits from something called large-volume exhaust-gas recirculation.

These extensive changes boost thermal efficiency to 40 percent, which helps improves fuel economy. According to experts at Toyota, is the best of any mass-produced engine in the world. All told it cranks out 95 horsepower on its own, but internal combustion is only a part of the Prius’ powertrain.

The car’s electric motor and continuously variable transaxle have been ruthlessly optimized as well, shedding weight and losing parasitic losses.

uicing these components is one of two different batteries. The most basic model soldiers on with a nickel-metal hydride pack, which keeps cost down, but all other models feature lithium-ion cell chemistry, which is even more energy dense. Fortunately, they’ve both been reduced in size and weight, which has allowed them to be mounted underneath the rear seat, something that helps increase cargo-carrying capacity.

With its electric motor and battery pack multiplying the fury of its gasoline engine, the new Prius’ drivetrain puts out a claimed 121 ponies, which sounds pathetic in today’s world where 400 horses are the norm, but it’s not as flaccid as you might think.

Maximizing Miserly Motoring
And one major benefit of having less power than, say, a Ford Mustang GT is enhanced efficiency. And as in with previous generations, this latest Prius is stunningly economical in all driving situations.

The car is projected to sticker at 54 miles per gallon in urban driving conditions and 50 on the highway. Combined, it’s expected to average a breathtaking 52 mpg.

Not content with these figures, Toyota has also developed an Eco variant of the new Prius that’s even more misery than mainline models. These cars have been strategically lightened in numerous ways. They lack a lot of the advanced technology offered in other versions, do not have a spare tire and ride on 15-inch wheels instead of 17s.

That may sound like a lot to sacrifice but the numbers on the window sticker should go a long way to offsetting these losses. Prius Eco models should sticker at 58 mpg city, 53 highway and 56 combined. Toyota claims this makes the Prius the most efficient non plug-in-capable car available.

Spaceship Interior
Sliding behind the 2016 Prius’ steering wheel, you’re sure to notice this car’s familiar interior design. The dashboard features a two-tier layout that’s both futuristic and strange looking at the same time. It’s kind of like the cockpit of an alien spacecraft.

This flying saucer’s cabin is constructed of pretty high-quality stuff and the build quality is stellar. The dashboard is comprised of nicely grained soft plastic that spills across the door paneling. Hard polymers are pretty premium as well. Nothing in the Prius feel cheap or otherwise ill conceived, except one part.

The visors are far too short to adequately serve taller drivers, who are sure to suffer blindness while driving in bright sunshine. Making things worse, they don’t slide or extend in any way, which means they block only a little more than half of the front door glass. This is hugely irritating at best, incredibly dangerous at worst.

As with its predecessor, the new Prius’ gauges are mounted in an oblong cluster located near the base of the windshield. This year the instruments are comprised of two 4.2-inch color display screens, which are bright, sharp and highly legible.

Sun visors notwithstanding, the capital T has also upped this car’s available security features. Chief among these enhancements is Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of advanced driver-assistance technology. It includes things like Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, automatic high beams, lane-departure alert and more. This technology is optional on several Prius models and standard on Touring-trim cars.

The Drive
Stabbing the power button, sliding its stubby shifter into drive and hitting the road, you’ll realize in about two city blocks that the all-new Prius is no sports car … obviously; you already knew that. Still, engineers worked to improve the way this vehicle handles and feels while in motion.

For starters, they pushed to quell unwanted noise, vibration and harshness. There’s more sound deadening material on the floor, behind the dashboard and even under the hood to minimize the intrusion of unwanted racket.

Along with its stiff new structure, the 2016 Prius also features a double-wishbone rear suspension instead of an old-school torsion beam. This helps the rear feel more planted and reduces road shock, though most drivers will never notice a difference.

Steering is pleasantly precise, with essentially no deadness or slop on center, but the overall weighting is just a tad too light. Some extra heft would be appreciated and go a long way to making this hybrid feel sportier.

As for powertrain performance, the new Prius has been tuned for greater low-speed responsiveness than before. The reworked electric motor helps it really scoot at around-town velocities. Acceleration to roughly 30 or 35 miles an hour is surprisingly brisk, though its enthusiasm tapers off continually the faster you’re going.

The Verdict: 2016 Toyota Prius Review

If you’re into saving the planet or just a little money at the pump, Toyota’s all-new Prius is sweeter than baker’s dozen of your favorite sweets. Of course if canyon-carving, tire-toasting performance is your thing then you need to shop elsewhere.

This industry-leading hybrid offers more refinement, technology and interior space than ever before, oh, and perhaps most importantly, a lot more miles per gallon. And best of all it delivers all of this wholesome goodness at a price that won’t send you into bankruptcy. The Prius Two starts at an affordable $25,035 including $835 in delivery charges.

LOVE IT
Quieter and more refined
Amazing fuel economy
Flawless fit and finish
Better dynamics

LEAVE IT
Still looks like an alien spaceship
Sun visors are useless

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacture...a-prius-review

[GhostRai]

Y'all need some stance in your life to brighten up your boring Prius life... and by brighten I mean make it more...GREEN.

[KR-S]

Originally Posted by RandomDeception

You know what this shit reminds me of? A Yu-gi-oh monster of all things.

[vh_supra26]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5BBPkL4uJ8[/ame]

APR Racing has taken the wraps off the motorsport-spec Toyota Prius GT300 which as the name implies will take part in the GT300 championship in Japan.

It might come as a surprise to some people, but this isn’t actually the first time a Prius is dressed in racing clothes. The latest iteration of the machine was introduced recently at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon and uses some bits and pieces from the road-going 2016 Prius, but obviously adapted for motorsport use.

Instead of the 1.8-liter engine it uses a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 working together with the electric motors of the standard car. The six-cylinder combustion engine is also used in the outgoing Prius GT300 where it’s mid-mounted, but in this latest racing application it remains in factory position as per the new regulations.

Other technical details are not available at the moment, but the images show a very wide body kit with huge front and rear splitters along with a massive wing to boost downforce. It makes extensive use of carbon fiber to shave off excess weight and for the same reason it boasts a stripped-out interior. It obviously looks meaner than the regular Prius and certainly more people will appreciate this design compared to the standard model.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11601191...o-behold-video

[vh_supra26]

Wald International has released some new renderings of its upcoming styling package for the 2016 Toyota Prius.

Looking far more aggressive than the earlier proposal, the latest teaser images suggest the model will be equipped with a stylish Sports Line package that includes a new front bumper, a revised grille, and a front lip spoiler. The car also features carbon fiber canards and triangular LED daytime running lights.

Moving further back, we can see sporty side skirts, lightweight alloy wheels, and body side graphics. The unique styling continues at the rear as there's an aggressive rear diffuser and a four-tailpipe sport exhaust system.

Since Wald typical eschews performance changes, the car's hybridized powertrain will likely carryover intact. This means we can expect the model will have a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, two electric motor/generators, and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. This enables the Prius to produce a combined maximum output of 121 horsepower and return an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 54 mpg city / 50 mpg highway / 52 mpg combined. Toyota also offers an Eco variant which has aerodynamic styling tweaks that allow the hatchback to return an estimated 58 mpg city / 53 mpg highway / 56 mpg combined.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11602151...ggressive-face

[wbradley]

LOL Japanese aftermarket for the Prius. They are huge seller there so I am sure they have customers for some silly aftermarket parts. The ISF exhaust tips are ridiculous!

The new Prius is ugly, definitely resembles the Mirai, and the new Chevy Volt is a lot better looking. However they will still sell a ton of them. Well engineered vehicle for what is is meant for, super efficient safe transportation.
Stupid low oil prices and dirt cheap gas in the states is definitely just screwing up the environment worse. It makes me sad that the US govt is painfully aware of the climate issues but wouldn't dare put a damper on mass consumerism. Most of the developed word taxes fuel like crazy, which sucks, but it does keep their country's C02 production lower. And it puts a lot of revenue in govt coffers.

I am conservative and don't like increased govt or bureaucracy, but "Hey everybody, cheap gas" does promote higher consumption. There is no denying the end result.

[evan_gt86]

So I had to take my car back to the dealership so they could correct some paint issues I noticed after buying it, (Certified used, clearcoat damage) and they gave me a new 2016 Prius for my free rental. Not gonna lie, Im actually enjoying it. Never though those words would ever come out of my mouth, but the 2016 Prius is actually nice. I would never buy one, not my style, but it is quite nice. At this point, Im not sure if my FRS is much faster than the new prius, its actually pretty quick for what it is.

[vh_supra26]

Click here to view more photos

Believe it or not, the Prius actually has some racing pedigree in its blood, having competed in Japan's GT300 championship.

On the back of the latest-generation Prius debuting, the GT300 variant has just been revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Developed by APR Racing, the all-new Prius GT300 uses some technologies from the new road car and mates them to systems from the, now retired, previous-gen racer.

Toyota says that the electric motor of the new GT300 is derived from the one of the production model but, at this stage, no further details about the electric motor have been released.

What we do know is that it is no longer joined with a 1.8-liter combustion engine but a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 from many other Toyota racing cars, including the outgoing Prius GT300.

Unlike that model which has its engine mid-mounted, new GT300 regulations stipulate that the engine must remains in its standard factory position.

Visually, the new GT300 car draws on the road model in its design with the same spaceship-like headlights and intriguingly shaped front grille and air intakes. The factory taillights have also been retained. Other than those elements, the track-only model is adorned with bespoke body panels and aerodynamic aids, including a massive rear wing and rear diffuser.

Full specifications about the 2016 Toyota Prius GT300 should be released soon.

http://www.carscoops.com/2016/01/men...0-racecar.html

[serialk11r]

I saw one of these on the street when going home from work...I didn't recognize it at first, but it looked hideous and burned my eyes. Then I thought, wait, it has to be the new Prius...and I was right.

[Zaku]

All I know is their ad campaign for this car is terrible, they're trying to use the irony of the Prius Stigma of being slow. So basically they're commercial is about criminals using a Prius as a getaway vehicle and because they're getting away in a Prius everyone is cool with it like wow go Green Criminals, wow, buy the Prius, it's a good getaway car. All the crown Vic are presented as stupid slow big cars, lol we know a crown vic will run circles around a new Prius I'm sure.

Seriously?

I was at the launch of the new Prius, and in the most mono toned speech by the Toyota representative, I found the Prius to be nice if it's something you're looking for. It's not for me, but I'm sure it will cater to alot of people. The styling takes alittle to get used to

still super silly ad campaign,

[vh_supra26]

The Japanese brand has just released an obscure new teaser image concerning an addition to its hybrid's range .

The press release was laconic: "Toyota is rolling out the next mechanical marvel in the Prius lineup at 9:10 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, March 23".

What we see are just the taillights that not have anything in common with those on the current Prius. since they are a long LED strip running the width of the rear end, instead of the vertical lighting units of the current Prius.

So what could it be? A new Prius Plug-In Hybrid, a Prius V Wagon or the replacement of the Prius C hatch? Toyota won't say, but since the 2016 New York Auto Show will open its gates for the Press next week, it won't be that long until we will find out what it has in store.

http://www.carscoops.com/2016/03/toy...rsion-for.html