Toyota Confirms Prius Battery Choices

The electric motor is also lighter and more compact, as is its power control unit, which is now mounted directly on top of the transaxle, reducing power losses in the high-voltage cables by about 20 percent.

Toyota finally took off the veil and spilled the beans on what will make the fourth iteration of the world’s most famous hybrid auto tick.

Although the new Toyota Prius retains the 1.8-liter VVT-i gasoline engine found in the current model, the powerplant has been entirely re-engineered, according to Toyota, resulting in better performance, fuel economy and reductions to size and weight.

Elsewhere, there are revisions to the hybrid system software to improve acceleration feel, an adaptive system in Power mode that engages a sportier acceleration and deceleration setting during enthusiastic driving, as well as a new active hydraulic booster for regenerative braking to improve brake feel and reduce noise.

The auxiliary batteries have been moved from the trunk to the engine compartment and the relocation of the hybrid battery beneath the rear seats (see below) also helps free up more luggage space.

“The Toyota Prius is the most successful hybrid on the planet, but its success hasn’t expanded to other hybrids, and even the Prius has struggled to maintain sales in recent years”, said Karl Brauer, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. An automatic grille shutter has been added to open and close the grille as necessary in response to outside temperatures. Prius buyers now get standard bi-LED headlamps that use a single lens for high and low beam operation.

The maker claims that, under ideal conditions, the petrol engine converts a remarkable 40 percent of the heat generated by combustion into power at the crankshaft, by improving gas flow and reducing losses to internal friction.

The new Prius also showcases Toyota’s new Simple Intelligent Parking Assist system, which uses an array of sensors to identify viable parking spaces and surrounding objects. The use of high-tensile steel has been increased from 3 percent to 19 percent.

Based on Toyota’s Iconic Human-tech design philosophy of fusing emotional and rational vehicle factors, the exterior of the all-new Prius hints at the car’s advanced functions while also expressing its fun-to-drive spirit, creating an instant and lasting impression.

The foundation stone for creating the new Prius is the Toyota New Global Architecture, a concept that helps enable significant improvements in efficiency, while also delivering a vehicle platform with a low centre of gravity, securing much greater driving quality, ride comfort, quietness and a more engaging, dynamic design. The result is both distinctive and functionally aerodynamic.

Staying true to the core concepts of the Prius, Toyota has produced an occupant-friendly interior that focuses on ease of use, with a design that aims to evoke the car’s advanced capabilities while remaining warm and welcoming.

Both the steering wheel and the front console tray are highlighted by a white accent that stands out and adds warmth and flair to the advanced design.

More improvements abound inside – the digital instrument cluster has been redesigned with two 4.2 inch full-colour TFT LCD screens – multi-info display on the left, basic vehicle data on the right. It detects whether the front and rear passenger seats are occupied and adjusts ventilation and heating performance accordingly, minimising air flow around any empty seats.

Available safety features include the Toyota Safety Sense P package that features a Pre-collision System with Pedestrian Detection.