January 12th, 2009 · No Comments

From Green Right Now reports

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today unveiled the 2010 edition of the Prius at the 2009 North American International Auto show in Detroit. The car, which has become synonymous with hybrid technology, will get larger even as it retains its high-mileage roots.

In fact, Toyota says the third-generation Prius will deliver even better mileage ratings, enhanced performance, along with innovative new design features; and the new model will be quieter and roomier than its predecessors. It will come equipped with new technology such as a moon roof with solar panels, four driving modes, Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) and steering wheel touch controls that display on the instrument panel.

The new Prius will offer three driving modes: EV-Drive Mode allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile; Power Mode will increase sensitivity to throttle input for a sportier feel; and Eco Mode will deliver the best mileage.

The promise of the 10-year-old Prius has always been excellent fuel economy, and Toyota says the new Prius will get 50 miles per gallon, up from 46 mpg in the current model.

The fuel economy will continue to come with ultra-low emissions. Toyota says the Prius will be built using processes that reduce pollution in every stage of vehicle life, from production and driving, through to disposal.

The first-generation Prius entered the market in 1997 as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid. Honda’s Insight was a limited-production vehicle. The Prius went on to become the virtual status symbol of the environmental movement and Toyota has sold more than a million worldwide in that decade.

In designing the new, third-generation Prius, Toyota said its engineers combined a careful refinement of existing systems with an aggressive measure of new technology necessary for the future of automobiles. A larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine will power the new Prius. Toyota says the larger engine actually helps improve highway mileage my making more torque and allowing the engine to run at lower average rpm (revolutions per minute) on the highway.

The company says the new engine uses less fuel at lower rpms, and mileage is especially improved in cold-start conditions and at higher speeds.

The 1.8-liter Prius engine also will be the first from Toyota that requires no belts under the hood, which should help fuel economy and lower maintenance.

Unlike most other hybrid vehicles available, Prius has been a “full” hybrid since introduction. This allows it to run on engine alone, battery alone, or a combination of both. The system blends the best of parallel hybrid and series hybrid designs to achieve the ability to operate on the electric mode alone, and to charge the batteries while the car is running.

Toyota says the patented Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the 2010 Prius is 90 percent newly-developed with significant improvements over previous models:

• The transaxle is lighter in weight and reduces torque losses by as much as 20 percent compared to the previous model.
• The inverter, which converts direct current to alternating current, has a new direct cooling system to reduce size and weight.
• Taken together, the inverter, motor and transaxle are smaller and 20 percent lighter.
• A newly developed electronically controlled regenerative braking system has been adopted, with control logic optimized to enhance regeneration.

Even though the 2010 Prius grows larger, it retains much of its signature aerodynamic look. The overall height is the same, but the roof profile was altered to move the top of the roof 3.9 inches to the rear. This emphasizes the wedge shape, and Toyota says the change improves rear headroom and overall aerodynamics.

The new car also will add new technology flourishes. An optional sliding glass moon-roof will include solar panels that power a new ventilation system. The system prevents the interior air temperature from rising while the vehicle is parked, making the cool-down time shorter when the driver returns to the vehicle, reducing the use of air conditioning.

Further reducing the vehicle’s power consumption are optional LED (light emitting diode) lamps in the low beam headlights and in the tail and stop lamps. Toyota says the air conditioning system, a major energy drain, has been re-engineered to increase efficiency and cool-down performance.

In pursuit of “sustainable mobility”, Toyota says it will use plant-derived, carbon-neutral plastics in the 2010 Prius. The newly-developed plastics, known as “ecological plastic,” will be used in the seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, inner and outer scuff plates, and deck trim cover. Ecological plastic emits less CO2 during a product lifecycle (from manufacturing to disposal) than plastic made from petroleum.

Related stories:

• Detroit auto show promises to be an ‘electric’ event, highlighting hybrids and electric infrastructure
• Slideshow: Detroit’s green cars for 2009
• Big Three kick off Detroit auto show
• Slideshow: 30 (cars) over 30 (mpg)
• The downside of cheap gas

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