Toyota Prius - introduces it's new family

During the recent Detroit auto show, Toyota ushered out its “Prius Goes Plural” campaign to bring home the point that the world’s most famous hybrid brand is in the family way. It has been twelve years since the first little awkward Prius swam ashore, forever changing how we view the automobile. Almost every automaker followed Toyota’s lead and launched its own hybrid. Now, the company that made hybrids mainstream is dredging a deeper waterway with three new models.

You’ll immediately recognize the “Prius v”, v for Versatility, as an extended member of a famous family. By creating an all-new wagon body, the five-door Prius accepts 50% more cargo. Passengers slide in and out as in a crossover while the available Panoramic View moon roof lets the light shine in. As expected from a Prius wagon, the car achieves 42/38-MPG city/hwy. - the best ratings of any SUV, crossover, or wagon on sale today.
The bigger Prius will come standard with Toyota’s Star Safety System that groups Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS brakes, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Brake Assist for an umbrella of electronic protection. Toyota goes one better by making its brake-override system standard.

Prius v will be one of the first Toyotas to debut the company’s new Entune™ infotainment system that supports apps like Bing, OpenTable, and movietickets.com. You can also get real-time weather reports, traffic updates, stock prices, and sports scores. Music options include iheartradio, Pandora, and easy connection for MP3 players via USB or Bluetooth audio streaming. Entune can even read and respond to text messages. All of this will be available when the Prius v goes on sale this summer.

Coming by the end of 2012 will also be a Prius plug-in that can go up to up to 13 miles on electricity alone courtesy of high capacity Lithium-ion batteries. Toyota claims the car will be able to charge in about 3 hours on 110 volts and 1.7 hours on 220v. A Smaller “Prius c” is an economical twist on the hybrid formula. Designed primarily for city use, it will offer a lower price point to appeal to younger drivers. Aeron-style net seating, long body, and five-door design make the car feel much roomier than its footprint would suggest. While Toyota did not release specifications, it promises the Prius c will offer the “highest mileage of any cordless hybrid”. We’ll find out during the first half of 2012 if a smaller Prius is a better Prius.

By Casey Williams - MyCarData