(Métro Montréal) 2010 Prius Three Part Test Drive Series

Part I

Miraculous Prius

Translation:
Satoshi Ogiso, the chief engineer of the new Prius gave us a challenge: Better the 3.3L/100km fuel economy over a 55km half highway/half urban route. True, he gave us close to an hour and a half to run said route, making other motorists impatient with our slowness. But, we succeeded. Our average: 2.9L/100km. Even the father of the new Prius couldn't believe it.

Whereas the majority of auto manufacturers don't have a hybrid vehicle for sale, Toyota has just launched the 3rd generation of its Prius. As in one, two, three. In the decade of hybrid propulsion, Toyota has had time to transform an experiment on four wheels to something close to normal. This generation is as much of significance for the hybrid system as it is for improving and putting on board more futuristic gadgets.

For that reason, instead of trying the impossible and summarising the things in one page, we will spread the pleasure over... three articles. One, two three. And because the festival of Easter has just finished, we will start with... the miracles.

More power, but less greedy
Good, miracles, it is a little strong, and, above all, to disparage the work of 2,000 engineers who had invested in this new generation. It's not for nothing! For a conventional vehicle, it uses three times less. (Editor: This paragraph made no sense to me)

Rest assured that it is a feat of ingenuity to add power to a hybrid (+22% to 134hp), and yet reduce its fuel consumption (from 4.1 to 3.8L/100km).

The stake was to arrive at these results... and yet control the cost of production. And yes, for those that are interested, Toyota makes a profit on the Prius - that wasn't evidently the case with the 1st generation.

In order to further reduce the targeted consumption to be the mass-produced car with the least thirst for fuel, not a miracle solution, each aspect of the equation had to be thought and re-thought, underlines Chief Ogiso.

Despite all the new stuff on board, the 2010 Prius sees its weight go up by only 45kg. Thank you aluminium hood and hatch. At 1,380kg total, the Prius is halfway between a compact and a midsize.

The reduction in consumption is also thanks to aerodynamics. Toyota has put the Prius in the wind tunnel for more hours than any other of its vehicles.

Thus the body lines have been refitted for better air flow - From where its sharp lines give a happy character to the triangular silhouette. And the peak of the roof has been receded by 99m, granting more headroom in the back.

The results of their efforts: The coefficient of drag has been reduced from 0.26 to 0.25Cd, which makes the Prius one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in the world.

20% better in the winter
Notably, the power unit has been revised. Because the engine size has been increased from 1.5L to 1.8L, the 4 cylinder gas motor turns at a lower rpm at cruising speed - which means less fuel consumed...

Moreover, with a smaller and lighter electric motor, but 17% more powerful (at 60kW), the Prius glides more often and for longer times in electric mode, without any use of the gas engine.

Those living in northern climates have had reproached the hybrid system in giving them heat. Thanks to a new heat recovery system tested in Timmins, Ontario, the electric motors now assists quicker than before (Editor: I presume she means the engine shuts off faster) "The output (of heat) in colder temps have been improved by 20%", supports Mr. Ogiso.

Good, enough with the miracles of the Prius, hang on til next week where we will do a tour of all the new technological breakthroughs on board. Think solar panels, automatic parking, bio-plastics...

Part II

A laboratory on four wheels


Translation:

Solar panels that cool the cabin, a system that allows the vehicle to park itself, remote air conditioning, bio-plastics... The 2010 Toyota Prius is not an "ordinary" hybrid - it is a true demonstration of techology on 4 wheels.

Since its launch in 2004, the 2nd generation Prius has, in addition to starting the modern hybrid era, being practical and without having any compromise, offered technological breakthroughs which has since been popularized. The Smart Key System, for example, can now be found today on a Corolla.

True to its tradition in offering, in plain view, its gadgets, the 3rd generation Prius brings with it a lot of ideas that are very avantgarde - Toyota prides itself in having applied for 1,000 patents for its new Prius.

Parking Assist
There is no doubt that the technology that whips up the most imagination is the parking assist. First launched in the large Lexus LS (Editor: Not really), it's been 3 years since the system was introduced and thus there was time to improve it, making the operation faster.

Thus, the computer onboard and its sensors analyse the available space more quickly before engaging the maneouvre without the driver doing anything - except braking. The wheel turns itself and the car will parallel park itself without striking anything. One is sent plunging into a science-fiction film.

To make its "cool"
Another new technology offered on the new 2010 Prius: A solar panel roof which harnesses the sun's energy, powering the fan to blow out hot air inside the cabin and replace it with cooler air. Toyota claims it's the first in the world.

Is the day really hot? The air conditioner can be turned on from a distance via its keyfob. For three minutes, the cabin will be chilled without using the gas engine

The Prius aims to be ecologically responsible too. It adopts new bio-plastics. Derived from plant instead of petroleum, these plastics can be found, among others, in the seats and cargo floor and have the advantage of being recycleable.

Of course, the 2010 Prius cannot be avantgarde if it didn't have intelligent cruise control (it is the one that controls the speed and the distance to the vehicle in front) and Pre-Collsion System (which reacts to an impact by tightening the seatbelts and applying the brakes).

It's beautiful technology, but...
The "Touch Tracer" function is, says Toyota, a first in the world. By gently touching the buttons on the steering wheel, the driver can show on the dashboard the desired information on current statistics, or control the audio or the climate control.

The problem is that it the image is added to an already busy dashboard with the Energy Monitor, instant fuel economy gauge, average speed, battery discharge and regeneration, and that's not including the navigation system (an optional feature). Lots of data and thus lots of readouts and possibilities. This will force the owner to open the owner's manual and take more time than is accustomed to familiarise themselves with the tsunami of information available.

So, how does the Prius drive? It is for me to tell you next Monday.

Part III

To be uploaded on Monday, 27th April.

 

Here's Part 3

Part III

Better to drive... more frugal

It's undeniable: Beyond the numerous improvements made to the 2010 Prius, on the technology side as well as the "eco" energetic motor, the Toyota hybrid's biggest change is its connection with the road.

Compared to the last generation which has left us, the new Prius holds the road much better. One must thank the 17" wheels that's equipped on the Touring version but especially the new MC platform which is shared with the small Scion xB (actually sold in the US and of which the box on four wheels will be making its entrance here in Canada at the end of the year with two other Scion models - the xD and tC).

Revised Drive

In addition to the improved stability of the car, the electric drive has been revised and, this time, it allows for good road feel and at the same time being extremely manageable.

The suspension has, however, retained its torsion beam structure resulting in a ride that doesn't feel planted and feels a little unsettled - much less than before, but nevertheless a little unsettled.

The power has been bumped by 22% and coupled with the hybrid system, up by 28% (Editor: no idea where she's getting this number) to 134hp and 105 lb-ft of torque, which for a midsize sedan is little. In fact, this power is something you'd find in a compact car that is much lighter.

Not surprisingly, the power is compromised by a CVT, a must for hybrids because of their lack of power. But, it must be said of CVTs that their acceleration is noisier and doesn't always give the dynamics that one wishes.

For this chapter, one must not complain too much, because with the Prius, more than any other vehicle, it's the fuel consumption which takes precedence. With its average consumption of 3.8L/100km (7% less tahn the 4.1L/100km of the last generation), the hybrid can take pride as one of the less thirsty vehicle on the market. The fact that the acceleration is not rapid doesn't constitute crititism.

Moreover, to help reduce consumption, Toyota has taken care to offer 3 new modes of driving:

• EV Mode: The car runs 100% on electric if the conditions allow
• ECO Mode: It's the prime ecological driving mode (depending on the requirements, the engine may be off)
• Power Mode: This mode satisfies those drive fast because it decreases the sensitivity of the accelerator

Other improvements include brakes that are smoother and aren't as rough as the first Priuses thanks to the discs that replace the drums in the back.

Straight into the future

In the cabin, the futuristic design, the layout of the controls and the displays is striking to the eye. You'd have to pinch yourself to assure yourself that you're not onboard a prototype but in a vehicle that will be on sale in June.

The seats are comfortable, the finish speaks of quality and together, give a beautiful, ultra modern look yet remains nice and welcoming. For any other vehicle, one would criticise the lack of sound proofing but if one hears more noise from the road here, it's could be because the engine can stay off at low speeds (up to 40km/h)

On the other hand, one must familiarise oneself with the wealth of information distributed on a line line at the bottom of the windshield : speedo, fuel consumption, eco mode... and that's not counting the project image that illuminates when one touches the soft buttons on the steering wheel that control the audio and climate functions.

That is a lot to ingest and it leaves little attention left for concentration on the road. The same goes for the lever which does not have a Park button and offers an engine-braking mode which can improve energy recovery. Not very obvious, this shifter...

Beyond these difficulties inherent in technological advances, external dimensions remain appreciably the same ones as those of the model of the former generation. At most, the silhouette is stretched of 15 mm in length and 20 mm in width.

But because the peak of the roof was moved back by ten centimetres, the rear passengers gain more headroom. This accentuates the roof line, and there's less headroom for the front passengers. And the reason is that the rear legroom is reduced by 7% (Editor: not sure how she makes that connection)

No prices have been revealed but we do know that there will be more versions. The base model will include the Smart Key System that allows unlocking and starting of the car without a key.

Unfortunately, if one wants to get heated leather seats, (which were not offered in Canada until now), one must fork out for the loaded model. This luxury will be offered only with the package that includes a navigation system, Pre-Collision System, Intelligent Parking Assist (that allows the Prius to park itself), Intellgent Cruise Control, Solar Panel and Remote Air Conditioning.

A Prius close to $50,000?? It won't be too far from that.