When the first Toyota Prius was launched in 1997, it became an iconic gas-electric vehicle as it was among the first hybrids released in the market then.
With the impending roll out of the 2016 Toyota Prius, which is the fourth generation model, the Japanese carmaker not only expects the vehicle to sustain the momentum of its predecessor variants, Toyota is confident that it will become a game-changer among today’s hybrids especially with its superb 55 miles per gallon fuel efficiency rating and its fully revamped interior.
The hybrid vehicle should be expected to debut this fall either at the Tokyo Motor Show in September or the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Production of the hybrid vehicle is said to start in Japan in December this year.
The two-motor hybrid system will certainly be the next generation of the long-standing Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive. There will also be a plug-in hybrid version though it is likely to be released by next year yet.
According to Edmunds.com, the Prius actually carries a social and cultural currency beyond its practical nature so when Toyota decided to reinvent the model, it is actually courting risk and peril. In other words, the 2016 Toyota Prius will be threading the line between its throngs of loyalists and a significant number of skeptics too.
Going greener
The Toyota Prius was also among the first to usher the environment-friendly mindset among cars but with the emergence of new hybrids and fully electric cars, the sedan has been overshadowed eventually.
The 2016 Toyota Prius will be making a comeback towards such end and promises that it will be greener than ever and consumers will see the results once the hybrid is officially rolled out to the markets early next year.
It will seek to lure back eco-conscious drivers who have moved on to greener pastures, cites Digital Trends.
The 2016 Prius be the first vehicle from the Japanese carmaker that will be using the Toyota New Global Architecture or TNGA. Accordingly, the 2016 Toyota Prius will be more of a driver’s car than its predecessor models, as it will be fitted with blacked-out alloy wheels with a sporty design.
More fuel efficient
The test runs of the 2016 Toyota Prius has been going on for quite some time now and latest spy shots of the vehicle were that it was spotted in Southern California recently. Although it was well-camouflaged, the contours and the lines beneath the sticker covering of the vehicle indicate that it is undoubtedly a Prius.
The snapped photos of the camouflaged test car showed a rounded nose, a very high tail with a sharply vertical Kamm back for good aerodynamic characteristics, and relatively small wheels and tires.
Apart from being sportier than the current model in terms of design, handling, and grip, the 2016 Toyota Prius is 10% more fuel-efficient too, which means it has a remarkable EPA combined fuel efficiency rating of 55 miles per gallon.