The
Toyota Prius v, also named
Prius Alpha in Japan, and
Prius + in Europe, is a
full hybrid gasoline-electric compact MPV/
station wagon produced by
Toyota Motor Corporation introduced in Japan in May 2011, and scheduled to be released to the U.S. market by October 2011
[2] and in the European market by mid 2012.
[3] The Prius
v was unveiled at the January 2011
North American International Auto Show alongside the
Prius c Concept, and it is the first Prius variant to be spun off from the
Prius platform.
[4][5] According to Toyota the "v" stands for "versatility."
[6][7] The Prius
v is offered in the Japanese market with a
nickel-metal hydride battery at a price of
¥2.35 million (
US$29,000), and the
lithium-ion battery version is expected to sell for
¥3 million (
US$37,000).
Specifications
The Prius
v styling looks like a European-style small minivan and has a 0.29
drag coefficient with a shape that evolved from the Prius. The exterior styling is rounded with an extended roofline that allows the vehicle to retain the triangular silhouette symbolic of Prius. Other differences are the trapezoidal-shaped front with sharp-edged headlamps and wind-slipping aero corners for improved aerodynamics, as well as an enlarged under grille. The rear styling has a specially designed roof spoiler that improves air flow.
[1]The interior cargo space is more than 50% larger than the
2010 Toyota Prius, 5 inches (130 mm) longer and 1 inch (25 mm) wider, providing 34.3 cubic feet (970 L) of cargo space behind the rear seats; it also offers 38 inches (970 mm) of rear leg room, and more head height.
[4][8]The Toyota Prius
v includes many of the same standard features of the 2010 Prius, with four driving modes: Normal, Power, Eco and EV;
smart key with push button start, an electronic shift lever, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), and a back-up camera. Available options include energy-efficient
LED headlamps, dynamic radar cruise control with a Pre-Collision System (PCS), and advanced parking guidance system.
[1] The Prius
v has several technical advancements including Toyota's new
Toyota Entune Multimedia System and a panoramic sunroof made of lightweight-resin, 40% lighter than a glass roof of the same size.
[8][9] Entune will premiere on the 2012 Toyota Prius v.
[10] Powertrain
The Prius v
powertrain uses the same 1.8 liter
Atkinson cycle gasoline
inline-four engine used in the conventional Prius, a 60
KWh traction motor, and shares the Prius’s
Hybrid Synergy Drive system and the same 201V
nickel-metal hydride battery pack.
[4][8][11]Toyota introduced some refinements unique to the Prius v
powertrain. These refinements include a new "Pitch and Bounce" motor control that the Prius v automatically employs on undulating roads and the refined control was designed to improve ride comfort and control. Because the Prius v is a larger vehicle with greater load capacity, suspension components were redesigned to improve handling and ride quality. "Pitch and Bounce" control works with the vehicle’s suspension to cancel
longitudinal oscillation when the Prius v is driven over uneven surfaces.
[11]The Prius v also includes a redesigned engine coolant heating structure surrounding the vehicle’s
catalytic converter and the exhaust heat recirculation system has been refined to reduce engine warm-up time and improve occupant heater response time in cold weather. A switch valve electronically controls coolant recirculation through the exhaust heat recirculation system.
[11] Fuel economy and emissions
The Prius v estimated
fuel economy is 44 miles per US gallon (5.3 L/100 km; 53 mpg
-imp) in the city and40 miles per US gallon (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg
-imp) in highway, and 42 miles per US gallon (5.6 L/100 km; 50 mpg
-imp) combined.
[11] According to Toyota, the Prius
vwill produce 66 percent fewer
smog-forming emissions than the average new vehicle.
[1] Markets and price
Toyota plans to launch the second member of the Prius family with three regional versions of the vehicle: the Prius v in the North American market, the Prius Alpha in Japan, and the Prius + in Europe. The Alpha is the basis for the five-seat planned for launch in North America, and the seven-seat planned for launch in Europe.
[3][11] Japan
On May 13, 2011, Toyota introduced the Prius Alpha in Japan with a sales target of 3,000 units per month.
[3][11]The Prius Alpha is available in a five-seat, two-row model and a seven-seat, three-row model, the latter’s third row enabled by a space-saving lithium-ion drive battery in the center console. The five-seat model uses a NiMH battery pack. Deliveries of the Alpha will be delayed due to the effects of the
2011 earthquake and tsunami on production. Toyota announced it had received 25,000 orders for the Prius Alpha hybrid wagon and minivan models in Japan before the start of sales.
[3][12] The five-seater version starts at
¥2.35 million (
US$29,000), and the seven-seater starts at
¥3 million(
US$37,000).
[3] Europe
The European version is named Prius + and will be launched by mid 2012.
[3] The European version will be offered with a
lithium-ion battery, with three rows of seats with accommodations for seven passengers.
[3][13] North America
Toyota plans to offer the Prius v in the U.S. by October 2011
[2] with a
nickel-metal hydride battery pack similar to the 2010
model year Prius, and with two rows of seats to accommodate five passengers. The European and Japanese versions will be offered with a
lithium-ion battery, with three rows of seats with accommodations for seven passengers.
[13][3] Toyota's sales target is about 15 to 20% of conventional Prius sales in the United States, which represents around 30,000 units a year. With the Prius v Toyota is expecting to expand its customer base to include young families with children looking for a hybrid more spacious than the Prius.
[2]
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