A new variant of the 2016 Toyota Prius was launched by the Japanese carmaker during the recently-held Tokyo Auto Salon and it further emphasized the racing pedigree of the hybrid vehicle line.
Toyota unveiled the Prius GT300 variant which is using some technologies from the new road car and blends them to systems from the previous-generation racer, notes Car Scoops.
The Japanese carmaker disclosed that the electric motor of the new GT300 is derived from one of the production models but the company does not want to say anything anymore at this time.
The GT300 is similar to the other variants in terms of design and features the same spaceship-like headlights and intriguingly shaped front grille and air intakes.
The factory taillights have also been retained. But other than those elements, the track-only model is adorned with a bespoke body panels and aerodynamic aids including the massive rear wing and rear diffuser.
Now on sale
Meanwhile, the 2016 Toyota Prius is now on sale in Japan and US. It was developed using the Toyota New 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.
In terms of what’s under the hood, the 2016 Toyota Prius is being 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 fuel efficiency.
Aftermarket companies dress up the 2016 Toyota Prius
After the formal unveiling to the motoring retail markets of the 2016 Toyota Prius in September last year, it has been noted that there are just too many aftermarket companies that came in to serve customers.
Although TRD (Toyota Racing Development) has its own extensive list of kit for the fourth-generation Prius, other specialists include Wald and Tom’s Racing. Eventually, Kuhl Racing decided to join the fray too, details Paultan.org.
The Japanese aftermarket specialist has incorporated to the funky looking hybrid a front spoiler, a black side skirt, and an under spoiler with a floating diffuser in the back.
The 2016 Toyota Prius also features a pretty little Swanneck GT wing that sits on the rear hatch. The Prius receives larger aftermarket wheels and it appears to be sitting very much nearer to the ground, which is a by-product of having a lowered suspension.
The custom 2016 Prius seems to be sporting a different exhaust system as those quad exhaust tips in the back most likely.
Toyota was the first carmaker to mass-produce a hybrid vehicle through the Prius brand. When the first full hybrid electric mid-size sedan came out in North American markets in 2000, it was rated as among the cleanest vehicles sold in the US based on smog-forming emissions.
The Prius actually went on sale first in its home country in Japan in 1997, before making it to other markets three years later. Today, the vehicle is sold in over 90 countries, with Japan and the US as its largest markets.
The 2016 Toyota Prius is the fourth iteration of the brand and comes with a dramatic design as well as improved efficiency for the full hybrid engine and other variants.
Officially launched in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 8, the 2016 Prius will officially make it to the US dealerships in March this year.
The latest hybrid vehicle from Toyota will continue the company’s legacy for efficient and environment-friendly vehicles, which the Prius has established since it broke ground into the market 19 years ago. The brand, in fact, continues to reign supreme over all other hybrid vehicles today.
The launching of the 2016 Toyota Prius in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 8 was both historic and surprising.
It was historic in the sense that it was the first ever that a Japanese carmaker launched a vehicle in the Sin City. It was surprising because nobody expected that from Toyota.