- Next-generation of Hybrid Synergy Drive, the undisputed reference point for hybrid technology
- New Prius is a full hybrid vehicle, capable of running on petrol engine or electric motor alone, or combination of both
- Ninety per cent of components redesigned for lighter, more compact and efficient system
- Power increased by 22 per cent to 134bhp, fuel economy by 10 per cent (72.4mpg official combined cycle) and CO2 emissions down 14 per cent at just 89g/km
- New 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine using the Atkinson cycle for increased efficiency
It is said that when you are at the top, the only way you can go is down. Not so for the remarkable Toyota Prius, which this summer takes its advanced hybrid power technology and environmental leadership on to a higher level.
The new, third-generation Prius will not only be the world’s most technically advanced mainstream car, it will also demonstrate the real world benefits of Toyota’s market-leading hybrid powertrain, Hybrid Synergy Drive.
It will deliver emphatic improvements in fuel efficiency, environmental responsibility and driving performance.
When Hybrid Synergy Drive made its debut in the current Prius, it was voted 2004 International Engine of the Year, and went on to win the Green Engine of the Year title for the last five years in a row. For new Prius it has been comprehensively revised and improved, with more than 90 per cent of its components redesigned to create a lighter, more compact system, with a focus on increased power, further reductions in real-world fuel consumption and improved cold weather operation.
The result is that new Prius remains the undisputed reference point for mainstream vehicle hybrid technology, setting new standards in innovation, design and driving enjoyment.
System power output has been increased by 22 per cent, from 109 to 134bhp (110 to 136 DIN hp) and, with performance to match a conventional 2.0-litre petrol vehicle, new Prius will accelerate from nought to 62mph in 10.4 seconds.
At the same time overall fuel economy has been improved by 10 per cent, new Prius returning 72.4mpg in combined cycle driving. The adoption of a larger, 1.8-litre engine reduces the rpm during high-speed driving to give a 10 per cent gain in long-haul cruising fuel efficiency. And with more torque produced at lower engine speeds, new Prius offers more relaxed cruising performance, too.
Prius easily exceeds the Euro 5 emissions standards, producing 89g/km of CO2. And when operating in EV mode at speeds up to 30mph, it uses no fuel and produces zero exhaust emissions.
Hybrid Synergy Drive System Components
Unlike parallel or ‘mild’ hybrids, which use additional electric motor power purely to boost petrol engine performance, or ‘series’ hybrids, which rely on electric power alone to drive the wheels, new Prius is a full hybrid capable of running in petrol and electric modes alone, as well as a combination of both.
That means it delivers the energy-saving benefits of a series hybrid combined with the performance benefits of a parallel hybrid. It gives new Prius seamless acceleration and remarkably quiet operation, while also returning class-leading fuel efficiency and ultra-low emissions.
The system comprises a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine, a powerful electric motor, a generator, a high-performance battery, a power control unit and a power split device, which uses a planetary gear set to combine and re-allocate power from the engine, electric motor and generator as required.
The key to the successful installation of Hybrid Synergy Drive within Prius’s front-engine platform is the housing of the electric motor, generator and power split device on a single, lightweight and highly compact transmission casing that is little bigger than a conventiona