Say Hello To The 2016 Toyota Prius- Sportier, Safer, And More Efficient
By Paulo Acoba
Toyota unveiled its all-new 2016 Toyota Prius to the world and it looks fabulous.
The spy photos and a couple of exclusive shots of the new 2016 Toyota Prius were spot on when they hit the web. Earlier today ( Sept. 8, 2015) Toyota went ahead and unveiled the fourth-generation Toyota Prius to the world under the bright neon lights of Las Vegas. Not only is the Toyota Prius marginally more fuel efficient ( by ten percent according to the press release) it’s supposedly more fun to drive, safer and has the looks to boot.
It was rumored before that the all-new Prius would be ten percent more efficient and the rumors are true. Currently, MPG for the Prius sits at 51 City/48 Highway /50 combined. So this time around expect numbers to improve to 56 city/ 53 highway and 55 combined. And it gets even better because Toyota is bringing out an Eco-model which should delight a couple of hypermilers out there.
Toyota calls the new looks of the Prius, “Easy on the eyes.” So far reactions to the new looks have been praiseworthy to down right vitriol. People do seem to forget that the Prius never really was pretty to begin with, and that’s sortof the whole point. Function takes a priority over form so aerodynamics played a large role on what the Prius looks like now. LED headlights up front reduce how much real estate is taken up by lights. A tiny engine means small cooling needs so there’s hardly any gaps needed for cooling (better aerodynamics.) The side profile is attractive with an ever so slightly increasing doorline at the rear passenger door. The real piece-de-resistance seems to be those teardrop rear taillamps that evoke a lot of Lexus’s lineup. There’s no denying that’s a Prius from behind.
And this Toyota Prius is fundamentally supposed to be sportier thanks to a lower center of gravity, being 2.4 inches longer, .6 inches wider and .8 inches lower. Outback Toyota has added an all-new rear double wishbone suspension which should improve how the Prius handles. The body is more rigid as well.
Toyota’s suite of safety enhancements is called Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) and includes,
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Automatic High Beams
This is a welcome update from Toyota with arguably its most important vehicle of the century. People often love to hate Prius owners but fail to remember that Toyota is a business and will cater to what people want. People want fuel efficient vehicles and there are few cars that can meet the level of quality and MPG that the Toyota Prius delivers. We can’t wait to try one out for ourselves.
