The auto that led the expansion of petrol-electric hybrid era for the fashionable generation has been reinvented, with a brand new glance, new era and extra energy. But it surely may not come to Australia.
0The brand new 2023 Toyota Prius has been unveiled in the USA and Japan – however the ambassador of Toyota’s hybrid era is not going to make a go back to Australian showrooms.
Coming into its 5th technology since 1997, the brand new Prius sits on acquainted underpinnings however wears a brand new frame, adopts era from Toyota’s flagship fashions, and beneficial properties a spread of extra robust and environment friendly hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains.
But it surely may not come to Australia, because the current-generation Prius was once axed in the neighborhood in Might – and its low gross sales numbers are not going to make a go back possible.
Toyota has bought greater than 300,000 hybrid automobiles in Australia, about 35,000 of which were Prius fashions – however after Prius gross sales peaked in 2008, they by no means recovered, losing to fewer than 100 in 2021.
To face with the exception of Toyota’s Corolla and Camry Hybrid – that have smartly overtaken it in gross sales – the brand new Prius cuts a smaller hollow in the course of the air than its predecessor, and is fitted with extra environment friendly hybrid energy choices.
The entry-level choice the world over combines a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electrical element for a blended output of 103kW – matching the 2023 Corolla Hybrid it stocks its drivetrain with, and up at the outgoing 90kW 1.8-litre Prius.
Toyota has no longer equipped any gas financial system figures, on the other hand Toyota world design boss Simon Humphries advised audience of the auto’s livestream it’ll be the most productive style in its “magnificence”.
To be had for the primary time is a extra robust 2.0-litre hybrid gadget shared with Toyota’s new Corolla Pass small SUV, creating 144kW. Eastern stories recommend each 1.8-litre and a pair of.0-litre Prius fashions are to be had with front- or all-wheel force.
The two.0-litre style is probably the most robust manufacturing Prius hybrid ever constructed, and the fastest, with a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time in the USA of about 7.5 seconds.
Crowing the variability shall be a brand new Prius plug-in hybrid, combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine, a couple of electrical motors and a 13.6kWh battery pack for a blended output of 164kW, with front-wheel force.
The claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds is on par with scorching hatches a decade in the past – and a couple of tenths slower than Toyota’s GR86 sports activities coupe – whilst all-electric riding vary has been greater through a claimed 50 in line with cent, suggesting as much as 70km in Eastern trying out.
The plug-in hybrid’s battery pack is now positioned underneath the rear seats, reasonably than underneath the boot flooring – claimed to strengthen the auto’s centre of gravity and build up boot house.
Underpinning the brand new Prius is thought to be an evolution of the outgoing style’s structure, additionally utilized by the Corolla hatch, Corolla Pass SUV and a spread of different Toyota automobiles.
Eu specs point out the brand new Prius measures about 4524mm lengthy, 1782mm large and 1420mm tall, using on a 2750mm wheelbase – 46mm shorter general, 22mm wider, 50mm decrease and 50mm longer between the wheels than the outgoing automobile.
The design of the brand new Prius is extra fresh than the outgoing automobile – which divided opinion upon its release in 2016 – with a sleeker five-door hatchback form, clean frame surfaces, and an aerodynamic windscreen that virtually blends with the bonnet line.
The LED headlights draw inspiration from Toyota’s BZ electric-car vary, whilst there is a full-width LED tail-light bar, and alloy wheels as much as 19 inches in diameter – two inches higher than lately’s automobile.
Inside of, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is suited to flagship fashions, working Toyota’s newest device with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite tv for pc navigation and over-the-air updates.
The centrally-mounted tool binnacle of the outgoing Prius has been ditched in favour of a 7.0-inch virtual tool cluster – shared with the BZ4X electrical SUV – forward of the motive force.
Fabric or artificial leather-based trim is predicted to be to be had, relying at the style grade – with flagship fashions fitted with sports activities seats – whilst a financial institution of key inner controls has been moved to a row of narrow switches at the dashboard.
To be had inner options come with dual-zone local weather keep watch over, heated and ventilated seats, an ambient lights gadget built-in into the dashboard panels, USB-C ports, an electrical parking brake, a wide ranging sunroof, and at the plug-in hybrid style, sun panels at the roof.
Toyota’s newest complicated security features are to be had, anticipated to incorporate independent emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep help, adaptive cruise keep watch over, blind-spot tracking, and rear cross-traffic alert.
There may be additionally automated parking, a integrated dashcam, a virtual rear-view reflect, and on some fashions, house energy sockets within the automobile, permitting exterior electric gadgets to be charged from the auto’s battery.
The 2023 Toyota Prius is due in Eastern showrooms prior to the tip of this yr in hybrid shape, with the plug-in hybrid due mid subsequent yr.
“Toyota Australia has no plans to introduce the brand new Prius to the Australian marketplace,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson stated in a media commentary.
“During the last few years, we now have considerably greater our hybrid providing with automobiles suited for Australian marketplace stipulations together with Yaris, Yaris Pass, Corolla, C-HR and just lately Corolla Pass.”
