Toyota Prius to get 55 mpg

More than two decades and over 8 million Toyota hybrid sales later, the all-new, no compromises 2016 Prius stands side by side with its sibling, the hydrogen powered Mirai, poised to change the game yet again.

The fourth-generation Prius builds on the environmentally-friendly credentials of the its predecessors, with certain grades achieving a target fuel efficiency of 40 km/L under the Japanese JC08 cycle (in-house measurements).

A hybrid switches back and forth between a gasoline engine and an electric motor to deliver a super-efficient drive, but is increasingly being challenged by even more futuristic technologies, such as the purely electric auto and the fuel cell, which are both zero emissions. As well as making the cabin environment more comfortable, this also improves fuel efficiency. The current Toyota Prius is rated for 51/48/50 mpg city/highway/combined. The increases allow the Prius to retain heat and therefore energy more effectively, as a result of a redesigned air-intake port, exhaust gas recirculation system, and redesigned coolant passages.

The 2016 Prius still has a 1.8-liter engine but it has been re-engineered.

The Prius is Toyota’s flagship hybrid and the 2016 model has a new look and technological advances while also being lighter and more aerodynamic.

The system has a 20% reduction in mechanical losses through friction compared to the previous model. On top of this, the transaxle’s old planetary gear set is replaced with a parallel gear set in the reduction gear for further friction reductions.

The new Prius also introduces the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) modular platform, which will underpin a number of other future models and will bring manufacturing efficiencies.

The new Prius features a new nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery, considered by Toyota to be the optimum choice to meet market requirements. Along with a new double wishbone suspension and a lower center of gravity, Toyota hopes the new Prius offers a sportier ride. Toyota says that this is a result of Laser Screw Welding, new adhesives and frame structures, and more high-strength steel. New updates to the hybrid system software improve the feel of acceleration, giving a smooth and direct response in a lower rpm range.

The Prius was not the first hybrid on the market when it debuted in 1997 but established itself as the industry benchmark and Toyota used its success to expand the technology across its lineup. That fact, combined with its cachet, a revised interior with new tech, and a suit of active safety features, means the 2016 Toyota Prius could be an even bigger hit than before. To improve brake feel and reduce noise, the all-new Prius utilizes a newly-developed active hydraulic booster for its regenerative brakes. The body height has been reduced by 20mm and the high point of the roof has been moved 170mm forward, ensuring plenty of headroom for front seat passengers while also contributing to excellent aerodynamics and an impressive 0.24 coefficient of drag (Cd). White accents on the steering wheel and front console tray add to the impact and advanced quality of the design.

The essentials – plus navigation alerts such as speed limit changes and important intersections – are also shown in a head-up on the lower section of the windshield. That’s why Toyota rebuilt the Prius from the ground up, broadening the car’s appeal by overhauling its design, improving performance, and adding personal touches both inside and out, under the developmental concept of “a handsome vehicle for a attractive Earth”.