PLANO, Texas, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty years
ago, with the Y2K computer glitch
reduced to the punchline of the year, technology in another corner
took a mammoth leap as a small, unassuming sedan very
quietly rolled into U.S. Toyota dealerships. The 2001
Toyota Prius, the world's first production hybrid car, had arrived,
and it would profoundly change the trajectory of automotive
propulsion evolution.
Over the next two decades, Toyota would go on to sell more than
6 million Prius vehicles worldwide and more than 3.6 million total
hybrid models (including Lexus) in the U.S. Toyota Prius sales in
the U.S. reached 1.9 million through 2019, and the model name
became synonymous with hybrid technology. (The original Prius went
into production for the Japanese market in 1997.)
All of that is worth commemorating.
And so, Toyota is marking the special anniversary of the
groundbreaking Prius, the foundational car of its global hybrid
leadership, by offering the Prius 2020 Edition for model year 2021.
Toyota will offer 2,020 of these special models, based on the
well-equipped XLE FWD grade. Available in a choice of Supersonic
Red or the new Wind Chill Pearl, the 2020 Edition features striking
black exterior trim and unique features, including a color-keyed
rear spoiler.
The 2020 Edition model includes black inserts for the 17-inch
alloy wheels, blackout headlight components and trim, B-pillars and
mirror housings. Unique to the Prius 2020 Edition are a "2020"
insignia key glove/fob and floor mats, as well as black shift knob
and interior A-pillar trim and smoked HVAC vents.
The overall look is both sporty and elegant, with just a touch
of mischief. But there's nothing mischievous about a car rated at a
manufacturer preliminary-estimated 54 city MPG / 50 highway MPG /
52 combined MPG and equipped as standard with one of the auto
industry's most advanced driver-assist safety systems.
New for 2021: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0
The Prius, which already had Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P)
standard, steps up to the more capable TSS 2.0 for 2021. This
latest version of the critical safety system includes:
- Pre-Collision System with Low-Light Pedestrian Detection
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Bicyclist Detection
- Lane Departure Alert
- Automatic High Beams
- Road Sign Assist
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection is designed to
offer automatic braking capability, under certain conditions,
should the driver not react in time in an emergency situation.
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent
Clearance Sonar with Intelligent Parking Assist are also
standard.
Also for 2021, all but the Prius Limited add Android Auto
compatibility. (Apple CarPlay compatibility was already standard on
2020 Prius models.)
The Prius mission was right in its name; it is Latin for "first"
or "original," and can also mean "to go before." Now, look at all
the hybrids that have come since.
The Prius is one of 10 Toyota hybrid models, and one of 11
electrified vehicles with Mirai, a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric
Vehicle (FCEV), available for 2021. Others include the first-ever
Corolla Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid,
Highlander Hybrid, RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime.
The Shape of Progress
Its 2020 livery gives the 2021 Prius an added edge of
distinction on the road. The unmistakable Prius silhouette is still
the car's signature design feature, made to cheat the wind with an
ultra-low 0.24 coefficient of drag (Cd). An automatic grille
shutter reduces aerodynamic drag by closing when airflow to the
radiator is not needed.
Standard Bi-LED headlamps and LED rear combination lamps not
only provide better light than halogens, but they also reduce
energy consumption and give a longer service life. A full-width
glass panel beneath the rear spoiler aids rearward visibility while
also serving as a distinctive Prius design feature.
The foundation of Prius efficiency is the Toyota Hybrid System
II. It operates much in the same fashion as the original hybrid
system in the 2001 Prius, but is more compact, more powerful, and
more fuel-efficient. In the Prius, the system combines the output
of a high-efficiency 1.8-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle
gasoline engine with that of two motor-generators through an
electronically controlled planetary-type continuously variable
transmission (CVT).
The advanced Power Control Unit is the key to extracting the
greatest efficiency from the powertrain. In most situations, the
Prius launches on battery power alone and then seamlessly starts
the gas engine and blends its output once underway, turning it off
when its power is not needed.
Thanks to ultra-low internal friction and efficient combustion,
the Prius gasoline engine exceeds 40 percent thermal efficiency.
The air conditioning system, which uses a quiet electric
compressor, works intelligently to maximize energy efficiency, with
the Smart-flow (S-FLOW) mode directing airflow only to seated
occupants to conserve energy.
More Room Than Some SUVs
The super-low-drag Prius shape is also highly practical. Thanks
to its generous cabin room, the Prius is rated as a midsize car by
the EPA. The front-wheel drive models, including the 2020 Edition,
offer 50.7 cu. ft. of cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded
down, which is more than in some small SUVs.
The Prius XLE grade on which the 2020 Edition model is based
comes standard with 17-in. alloy wheels, Safety Connect; heated,
SofTex®-trimmed 8-way power driver's seat; SofTex-trimmed heated
tilt/telescopic steering wheel; 3-door Smart Key system with Push
Button Start; remote illuminated entry, rear wiper, and Qi wireless
phone charging tray that accommodates larger phones.
The standard Toyota Audio system includes a 7-in. touch-screen
display; AM/FM CD player; 6 speakers; Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto
and Amazon Alexa compatibility; auxiliary audio jack, one USB 2.0
port with iPod® connectivity and two 2.1-amp USB charge ports;
advanced voice recognition; Bluetooth® hands-free phone capability,
phone book access and music streaming; Siri® Eyes Free, and an
integrated backup camera display.
All Prius models share the familiar central screen interface, a
signature feature in every Prius since the original. The 4.2-in.
color Dual Multi-Information Display with customizable screens
includes Energy Monitor and Hybrid System Indicator with
Eco Score, Eco Savings Record, Drive
Monitor, Eco Wallet, and Eco Diary
features, plus displays for climate control, driver support
systems, audio system content, and the navigation system.
First Generation: A Huge Leap in Fuel Efficiency
That original Prius combined output of a 70-hp gas engine and
44-hp electric drive motor. A second electric motor-generator
served as the starter for the gas engine and also generated
electricity for the drive motor and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)
battery pack.
The first Prius achieved EPA estimated 42 city MPG / 41 highway
MPG / 41 combined MPG. The higher figure for city driving reflected
the hybrid powertrain making greatest use of the battery and
electric motor in urban driving. The first Prius also used an auto
stop/start system to shut off the gas engine at stoplights under
certain circumstances. Such systems have since become commonplace,
including for non-hybrids.
Second-Generation: A Huge Leap in Everything
Arriving as a 2004 model, the second-generation Prius arrived
introduced a radical-looking and roomy liftback body, which
established the basic design silhouette for the Prius going
forward. The clever design yielded the room of a midsize sedan in a
compact package, also with generous luggage/cargo room.
A new brake-by-wire system improved regeneration and brake feel.
A new air conditioning system used an electric compressor, which
allowed it to operate without the gas engine running. Even with its
gain in power and larger body for the second-generation model, its
combined fuel economy jumped by 12 percent to 46 MPG.
Third Generation: 50 MPG and a New Family
The Prius marked its 10th anniversary in the U.S. with an
all-new third generation model, gaining more power and higher fuel
efficiency. Its 50 combined MPG was a new milestone. This
generation also brought new models, including the first Prius
Plug-in Hybrid, a new compact Prius c for under
$20,000 and a new, larger Prius
v with crossover-like room and versatility. Prius
models began offering Pre-Collision Braking and other advanced
safety tech.
Fourth Generation: More Choices, Higher Efficiency
Based on the Toyota New Global Architecture-K platform (TNGA-K),
the fourth-generation Prius is the most efficient and quietest in
its history. The fourth-gen Prius introduced the top-of-line Prius
Prime plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the Prius L ECO, and the Prius
AWD-e model with all-wheel drive.
Two More Electrified Vehicles to be Revealed
Toyota will introduce two all-new hybrids during the Toyota
2020 New Product Showcase at the link below Monday, May 18 at 11:00
a.m. EDT. The reveal will be hosted by Bob Carter, Toyota's executive vice president of
sales, and Jack Hollis, group vice
president and general manager, Toyota division.
Get your front row seat here Monday,
May
18: https://livestream.com/accounts/1607005/events/9122935
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the
U.S. and North America for more
than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable,
next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous
value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks
in North America, where we have 14
manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in
Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and
directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the
U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in
the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the
U.S.) in 2019.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Media Contacts:
Zachary Reed
469-292-3499
zachary.reed@toyota.com
Note to Editors: Photos and b-roll can be found on
ToyotaNewsroom.com
For customer inquiries, please call: 800-331-4331
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America