All the details of the new Toyota Prius, 18% more efficient than its predecessor

The Toyota Prius is an institution within the eco-friendly movement in the automotive industry.

Now, with the newly launched fourth generation, we begin to uncover its technical data and the secrets behind its almost unprecedented efficiency.

The exterior design of the Prius IV is clearly neither classic nor simple. It takes a revolutionary and innovative approach that may or may not appeal to you, but that leaves no one indifferent. Along those lines, Toyota has opted to evolve the Prius’s mechanical system as much as possible.

The Prius is, basically, a vehicle powered by two engines, one combustion and one electric. For two generations now, the combustion engine has been a 1.8, which in this fourth generation returns, clearly improved. The 1.8 Dual VVT-i delivers 97 CV. That is not a lot, but this engine is focused on efficiency rather than performance. For this reason it incorporates a dual cooling system capable of modulating the coolant flow to reach operating temperature much sooner.

In addition, the intake system has been profoundly modified, as has the piston design, to create greater turbulence in the flow, which in turn means a more energetic combustion. With all of this, according to Toyota, the Prius IV’s combustion engine achieves an efficiency of around 40%, similar to that of a diesel engine.

The electric motor now offers 73 CV and has power losses 20% lower than its predecessor’s. Furthermore, the weight of several components of the electrical system has been reduced, such as the Power Control Unit, which is now more compact and placed in a better position for driving dynamics.

The batteries powering the electric motor are still NiMH, as in previous generations. According to Toyota, this is the technology that best suits the demands of the market. With all of this, the new Prius will consume up to 18% less than the Prius III, a model that was homologated at an average consumption of 3.9 litres per 100 km, meaning we are talking about an approximate consumption of 3.2 litres per 100 km.

Source | Toyota