New 2010 Toyota Prius [ 2009 , 2008 , 2007 ]

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New For 2010

The Toyota Prius has become the symbol of the environmental movement going mainstream.  But by the time the 2010 cars are reaching showrooms, the Prius we know today may look antiquated and even inefficient.  Other manufacturers are hard at work trying to catch Toyota's green machine, with pure electric cars and higher mileage hybrids on the way.  Toyota's next Prius, due to reach dealers for the 2010 model year, needs to be a much more efficient car.

At this point, we have more rumors and speculation than facts.  But we know enough to paint a picture of what's next for the Prius faithful -- and it looks like they have a lot to look forward to.  The 2010 Prius will be larger than the outgoing model, will accelerate faster and probably have more interior space.  Perhaps more importantly, it will be more fuel-efficient: published reports say it may even reach 94 mpg, though we're skeptical that those numbers are possible with the technology that current reports say the car will use.

What The Auto Press Says

The 2010 Toyota Prius will feature a larger body than the outgoing model, a larger gasoline engine and a more powerful set of electric motors.  It may even feature roof-mounted solar panels, though those are expected to power only interior accesories.  Leaked photos show a body that doesn't depart radically from the shape that has become a cultural icon, but does update it with new styling cues -- and may even lose the horizontal bar across the rear window that has caused visibility problems for so many Prius owners.  It will feature lithium-ion batteries, said to hold more power and charge faster than the current car's Nickel-Metal Hydride cells.  It also may be a plug-in hybrid, able to recharge its batteries from a standard household outlet.

It will also, for the first time, be built in the U.S. -- which might give American dealers more Priuses to sell.  Limited supplies of the existing cars have kept prices artificially high throughout 2008.

The car will make its first official appearance at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January.  We'll have more specifics to report then.

Here is what the press has to say about the coming 2010 Prius:

• "The 2010 Toyota Prius is said to be a scaled-up version of today's sloped-roof 4-door hatchback sedan. One company source describes it as "Prius-esque, but a bit bigger and more solid-looking." Reports indicate the car will grow 3-4 inches longer overall, perhaps 2-3 inches longer in wheelbase, and about an inch wider, but will be no taller and not much heavier."  -- Consumer Guide
• "'It will be cleaner, with CO2 emissions below 100gm per kilometer,' said Miguel Fonseca, a Toyota managing director. 'We could have gone lower but, instead, we have chosen to give the Prius better performance.".'" -- Gas 2.0
• "Combined horsepower (engine and electric motor) should push past the 150 mark from 110 today -- all while increasing fuel economy from the current car's 48 city/45 highway numbers." -- Motor Trend
• "Hitting the road in 2010 will be Toyota's first plug-in Prius. Customers want more drive time in pure electric mode, but the current Prius can't deliver for various reasons, including battery longevity. The plug-in Prius will address that through the use of more-powerful lithium-ion batteries, but plans are to limit volume strictly, at least at first, to hundreds of units rather than thousands."-- Car and Driver
• "Toyota's reported target with the Mk 3 Prius is a stellar 40 km/l (94 mpg)." -- Edmunds

Key Details

The 2010 Prius will be powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a step up from the 1.5-liter unit in the current car.  That bumps the gasoline engine's horsepower from 75 to 100.  More powerful electric motors will boost total output to 160 horsepower up from 110.  Those components will draw power from new lithium-ion batteries, and owners may be able to recharge the car from a standard household outlet, boosting overall fuel economy.

Toyota has confirmed that a roof-mounted solar panel will be available as an option, though it will apparently not charge the batteries directly. Instead, it will provide power to the climate control systems, easing demand on the battery somewhat.

The car will still feature a Continuously Variable Transmission. Safety-wise, Antilock brakes and six airbags will be standard, though it isn't yet clear whether Toyota will mount its driver knee airbags in the next Prius.  Electronic Stability Control is federally mandated on 2010 cars, so we can expect to see it standard. 

Toyota is said to be exploring the idea of spinning off the Prius as a separate brand, selling several hybrid models.  The 2010 Prius may ultimately be a platform used for several different cars in coming years.  A Lexus version is also a possibility.