Since taking the automotive world by storm in 2000, the Prius has taken strides to offer an array of efficient hybrid vehicles. However, none look as promising and exciting as the Prius Prime. Shedding the original Prius appearance with a bit more flash and flair, the Prius Prime makes a concerted effort to make the entire hybrid experience more visually stunning, as well as more fun to drive. If you’re looking for the ultimate hybrid experience, the Prime is a car that you need on your radar. Here’s a glance at all that the new Prime has to offer.
Plug-In Capabilities
The Prime ushers in a new era of Prius by becoming the first in the family to include a plug-in option. Unlike its siblings, the Prime uses a larger battery and more powerful motors to go further on battery power. Using a normal, 120-volt home outlet, the Prime charges in just 5.5 hours, but using a public, 240-volt charging station gives it a full charge in just 2.5 hours. On a full battery, the Prime goes up to 22 miles, but when coupled with the gasoline portion of the engine, it travels 600 miles on a single tank. According to EPA estimates, this gives the Prime and miles per gallon (mpg) equivalent of 120. With these capabilities, the Prime is the perfect commuter car in electric mode, while the hybrid option gives you an affordable road trip machine.
Sleek Exterior Design
Many consumers argued that the original Prius had looks only a mother could love. On the other hand, the Prius Prime means you don’t have to compromise between aesthetics and fuel economy. While this four-door sedan has shades of the original Prius, it’s more similar to gasoline-powered compacts. To add to the exterior appeal, the Prime adds LED headlamps and tail lights, a more striking front fascia, an integrated spoiler, and a carbon fiber liftgate. The body is also crafted out of high-strength steel and aluminum, providing a lightweight design that aids in aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
Brilliant Interior Features
Another superior aspect of the Prime is a lavish interior that offers more features than just about any plug-in hybrid on the market. This includes technologically advanced specs like a USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, and Siri Eyes Free, which provides hands-free and eyes-free coordination with your iPhone. If you want a visually impressive experience, you can add an 11.6-inch display screen for a few extra bucks. Other amenities include dual-zone climate control, a 4.2-inch instrument display cluster, and a full readout to show how efficient you’re driving.
Safety-Conscious
Like the original Prius, the Prime has tons of safety-active features, which help avoid accidents before they happen. This includes Toyota Safety Sense P, which adds pre-collision detection with pedestrian recognition, automatic braking, dynamic cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. For the novice parallel parker, the Prime offers Intelligent Parking Assist, which guides your car into even the tightest spaces.
With the Prius Prime, Toyota enters into a new age of hybrid capabilities. Whether the Prime becomes a success remains, but with its features, styling, and fuel economy, it looks poised to create quite a stir in the hybrid market.
Photo by M 93: „Dein Nordrhein-Westfalen“ | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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