Toyota first introduced the Prius model in 1997. It was the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle and served as a pioneer for environmentally friendly driving. The Prius was then completely redesigned and released in 2003. The Prius then got its recognizable big trunk, straight hood, and windshield, all of which were perfected for minimal air resistance. The exterior of the Prius, as well as the fact that it is a hybrid, quickly gained popularity among the general public. Despite frequent criticism for its lack of aesthetics, the Prius remained a popular vehicle. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is an attempt to resurrect the Prius. Toyota intends to accomplish this by staying ahead of environmentally friendly technology.
Exterior design
Toyota hasn’t lost interest in the Prius’s aerodynamic design. Although the windshield and hood are no longer perfectly straight, they are still somewhat diagonal. The high, block-like rear is also retained.
The car’s front end appears to be very sleek. The headlights are two thin, slightly diagonal lines powered by LED lights. Underneath the headlights, in the far corners of the front fascia, are two vertical LED Daytime Running Lights. The mist lamps are located next to them. Finally, triangular pieces of body metal point towards the dark air vent.
When you look at the car from the side, you can clearly see the aerodynamic styling. The car’s nose is pointing downwards, while the back end is quite high. The side of the vehicle also clearly demonstrates that the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime has mostly angular outlines. In addition, the Prime is 2.4 inches (6 cm) longer than its predecessor.
LED taillights in the shape of wings can be found on the back of the car. They form a line that runs along the edge of the trunk lid and meets in the middle. Vertical lights are positioned beneath those lights, just as they are in the front of the car.
Interior design
The TFT-screen is something that has not been seen on any other recent mass-production vehicle. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime comes standard with a massive 11.6-inch infotainment screen. In terms of ratio, a mini-laptop screen is only 10.1 inches in size. Another TFT-screen is located above the infotainment screen. This one measures 4.2 inches and displays information such as current speed. Furthermore, a gauge display above the steering wheel was omitted. The gear shifting console is located beneath the infotainment screen.
Heated front seats and intelligent climate control are standard interior features. For compatible devices, there’s also a USB 2.0 port and a wireless charging dock.
Leather seats and an EnTune sound system with 10 JBL GreenEdge speakers strategically placed throughout the cabin are available as options.
Engine specs
The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime features Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. An intelligent transmission system connects a gasoline engine and an electric motor in this technology. The Prime is a plug-in hybrid, which means it can be charged by plugging it into a socket. A fully charged battery can be charged in six hours using a standard household socket. A 240-volt socket, on the other hand, takes only 2.5 hours.
When braking, regular hybrids generate electricity. This electricity is either used right away or saved in a battery. As a result, a standard hybrid basically charges itself.
The battery is larger in capacity than the battery in the previous Prius. The all-electric driving range is 22 miles (35 km). The gasoline engine is a 1.8 liter Atkinson-cycle four cylinder, the same as in the previous Prius. This engine incorporates features such as exhaust gas recirculation and a smaller water pump for the hybrid system. As a result, the engine is 80 percent more efficient than the one in the previous Prius.
Tech specs
This odd-looking car contains enough software to satisfy any techie. Many features can be accessed via a smartphone. Some of these include turning on the air conditioning and checking the charging status. You can also modify the charging schedule and locate charging stations.
Voice recognition, Bluetooth music streaming, and hands-free calling are all available in the vehicle. A premium pack called “Entune Media bundle” is available as an option. HD Radio, traffic information, and weather information are among the features. In addition, a three-month subscription to SiriusXM and the ability to pause the radio are included.
The Toyota Safety Sense technology package is available for the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. This includes adaptive headlights, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning with steering assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, the combination of pre-collision detection, pedestrian recognition, and automatic braking keeps pedestrians safe. If an object gets in the way, the car brakes and, if necessary, steers to avoid a collision.
Parking Assist is another available option. This feature employs sensors strategically placed around the vehicle to assist you in guiding your vehicle into a parking space.
Price and sale date
The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime will hit dealerships in November. The Prius Prime Plus costs $27,100, the Premium package costs $28,800, and the top Advanced package costs $33,100.
The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime will be sold in Europe as the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The vehicle will be available for purchase in showrooms in January or February of 2017. Prices are expected to start at around €40,000, depending on where the car is purchased.