The fifth-generation Toyota Prius made its debut in Europe hours before the new model was launched in the United States. We can’t be sure about specs or features for the American market yet, but this reveal provides a hint of what to expect.
In Europe, the new Prius is only available as a plug-in hybrid. The powertrain includes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a total system output of 220 horsepower. It is a 99-hp (74-kW) upgrade over the 1.8-liter four-pot electric vehicle that produces 121 hp (90 kW).
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The Prius plug-in in Europe has a 13.6 kilowatt-hour battery, compared to the 8.8 kWh package of the previous model. The unit is under the rear seat. Toyota’s announcement says the range is “50 percent larger than the current generation.” This translates to a distance of 58.5 miles (94.15 kilometers) as seen by the current The figure is 39 miles (63 km) in England.
The Prius plug-in will be available with optional solar roof panels. The European market model announcement did not mention whether this system will increase the vehicle’s driving range.
Aesthetically, the new Prius looks familiar but also has a fresh look. The design pushes the roof apex further back, which gives the car a more coupe-like appearance. Changed proportions include lowering the height by 1.969 inches (50 millimeters) and stretching the wheelbase by the same amount. The overall length is 1.811 inches (46 millimeters) shorter. The width has increased by 0.866 inches (22 millimeters).
Inside, the new Prius adopts an Island Architecture style language with three areas: “environments”, “driver modules” and “floating instrument panel”. It is similar in appearance to the layout in the bZ4X crossover in that the gauge display protrudes from the dash rather than around it, like most modern vehicles.
The center stack consists of the infotainment display that emerges from the dashboard. The only physical controls seem to be a knob in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
A pair of thin vents separates the infotainment screen from the HVAC controls. It has buttons to control the seat temperature control and adjust the cabin temperature.
After this European debut, we expect to have specs for the US model soon.
