The 2016 Toyota Prius is the latest iteration of the world’s most successful hybrid vehicle line. It is actually the smarter, faster, and sleeker version of the car which some critics have dubbed as the most boring vehicle in the world.
Unlike its predecessor models, which featured run-off-the-mill designs, the 2016 Prius is no longer as unattractive-looking as before. It already looks more like a sensible sedan and less like a science experiment, notes the Los Angeles Times.
Things only got better when the 2016 Toyota Prius Four was released recently, which looks even better than the original 2016 Prius.
Since the debut of the original 2016 Toyota Prius, the road has become busy with non-traditional powertrain vehicles. Almost every major vehicle manufacturer makes some kind of hybrid.
The hybrid vehicle lines are now composed of the battery-electric Teslas, plug-in Leafs and Volts, and the hydrogen fuel cell–powered Mirais and Claritys.
Visibility issues
Just like its predecessors, the 2016 Toyota Prius Four also has some visibility issues. The top-of-the-line model has amenities and features that help explain the price difference between the $24,000 Prius Two and the $30,000 Prius Four.
Although there were some squabbles from some critics, the 2016 Toyota Prius Four is the best to have come so far from the successful hybrid line. It may not be as chic or as cutting-edge as it once was, but it is the most road-tested hybrid on the highway.
Some of those who already have the opportunity to drive the 2016 Toyota Prius have found the hybrid to be very engaging in terms of driving dynamics. However, the Japanese carmaker cannot simply pitch the vehicle as a driver’s car as it will be up against a very strong competition.
The 2016 Toyota Prius is now on sale in Japan and US. It was developed using the Toyota News Global Architecture (TNGA) platform featuring a lower center of gravity, while torsional rigidity is now stiffer by 60%.
There is also the new double wishbone rear suspension and a new active hydraulic booster for regenerative braking to improve brake feel.
A redesigned fuel sipper
The Japanese carmaker wanted the general public to look into the redesigned fuel-sipper of the 2016 Toyota Prius in a different way.
In fact, the sedan has been referred to significantly as a ‘mutha-truckin ride’ as well as ‘badass’
In its Super Bowl commercial called ‘Heck on Wheels,’ it showed the 2016 Toyota Prius as having metal over its very own high-efficiency metal. The 100-second TV spot was put together by Toyota’s agency of record, which is no other than the Saatchi & Saatchi LA, notes Auto Blog.
It also featured a dude named Todd driving through the world that’s all about hard rock, whether it is a granny flashing the sign of the horns or office workers shredding on a fireworks-spewing Gibson Flying V.
Toyota will also run a campaign during the big game using the hashtag ‘GoPriusGo.
The 2016 Toyota Prius is now on sale in Japan and US. It was developed using the TGNA platform featuring a lower center of gravity, while torsional rigidity is now stiffer by 60%.
There is also the new double wishbone rear suspension and a new active hydraulic booster for regenerative braking to improve brake feel.
In terms of what’s under the hood, the 2016 Toyota Prius is powered by the re-engineered 97 horsepower, 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle VVT-I four-cylinder engine.
The mills are paired with two electric motors that make 71 horsepower and 163 Nm. In terms of fuel efficiency, the 2016 Toyota Prius is able to achieve 40 kilometers per liter on the JC08 cycle, a significant improvement compared to its predecessor’s 32.6 kilometers per liter.