Auto Shows

2009 Detroit Auto Show

 

Advertisement

More in Auto Shows

Auto Shows Main Page
Detroit Main Landing
2009 Detroit Landing
Straightline from Detroit
2009 Detroit Photo Gallery
2009 Detroit Auto Show Videos
Auto Shows Site Map

Pictures

Toyota introduced its 2010 Prius at the Detroit auto show.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota's 2010 Prius, by the automaker's own admission, was not a well-kept secret ahead of the Detroit "unveiling."
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
But the big news is the estimated 50 mpg Toyota says it has been able to squeeze out of the 2010 Prius.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

2009 Detroit Auto Show: More Fuel-Efficient 2010 Toyota Prius Makes Official Debut

STORY TOOLS
Print thisPrint this Save thisSave this Digg this storyDigg this
Email thisEmail this Most PopularMost popular del.icio.usdel.icio.us

DETROIT — Despite a larger and more powerful engine, Toyota estimates that its 2010 Prius will get a 50-miles-per-gallon combined fuel economy rating. The redesigned hybrid, which Toyota called one of the worst kept secrets in the industry, made its official debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show on Monday.

The 2009 Toyota Prius returns 48 mpg in city driving and 45 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. The government agency does not list fuel economy numbers for the new Prius.

The new Prius will arrive in showrooms in the spring. Pricing is not yet available.

The 2010 Prius gets a larger and more powerful 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired with the hybrid system. It replaces the previous 1.5-liter unit. Output is boosted by 22 horses to 98 horsepower, with a torque increase of 23 pound-feet to 105 lb-ft over the 2009 model. Toyota said it cut more than a second from the Prius' 0-60-mph time — to 9.8 seconds. "Contrary to conventional wisdom, the larger engine actually helps improve highway mileage," Toyota said in a statement.

The Prius now offers four driving modes, including "Normal." EV-Drive Mode allows "driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile, if conditions permit," said Toyota. There is also a Power Mode, which increases sensitivity to throttle input for a sportier feel and Eco Mode, which emphasizes "best mileage."

Designers moved the top of the roof back nearly 4 inches to boost headroom and to exaggerate the Prius' wedge shape. There is more cabin space, thanks to such space-saving moves as a smaller battery-control module.

A larger part of the redesign focused on re-engineering the hybrid drivetrain, with special attention paid to weight reduction. Toyota said the inverter, motor and transaxle are smaller and 20 percent lighter on the new Prius.

Other goodies include optional solar roof panels that power a ventilation fan to cool the cabin, and a remote air-conditioning system capable of operating on battery power alone to adjust cabin temperature before getting into the car.

In a tantalizing insider tidbit on the Toyota Open Road Blog, Irv Miller, Toyota's group vice president for environmental and external affairs, hinted at the future flexibility of the new Prius. "The new 2010 Prius was designed and engineered to package either the lithium-ion battery pack with plug-in capability or the nickel metal hydride battery for the conventional gas-electric system," he wrote.

Inside Line says: The third-gen Prius gets some major improvements, so don't be surprised to see the base price increase beyond $23,000 when the new model hits showrooms. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent