2012 Toyota Prius v Hybrid
Toyota took the wraps off its long-awaited second Prius model, the upcoming Prius v (for “versatility”) at the 2011 Detroit auto show. Scheduled to go on sale this summer as a 2012 model, this most practical of Priuses is measurably larger than the familiar hatchback—the v is 6.1 inches longer, 1.2 inches wider, 3.3 inches taller, and rides on a wheelbase stretched by 3.1 inches. Still, in spite of the larger frontal area and longer roof, the Prius v’s coefficient of drag is claimed to be a low 0.29. And despite sharing no body panels with the hatchback, no one will mistake it for anything but a Prius.
So what effect did the dimensional stretching have? Mostly in gained cargo and rear-seat leg- and headroom. It seats five, not the seven many predicted, but the wagon body swells cargo room to a considerable 34 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Seats fold 60/40 for even more space, and if that’s not enough, the front passenger seat folds flat, too. Rear seats slide fore and aft, and offer a 45-degree recline function, the better with which to enjoy the available panoramic sunroof, which is made from resin. Using the material, Toyota says, offers a 40 percent reduction in weight compared to glass, as well as excellent heat management.
The Prius v whirs along using the same 134-hp hybrid powertrain as the Prius hatchback. Thanks to more mass and different aerodynamics, however, the Prius v is expected to achieve EPA ratings of 42 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 40 mpg combined versus 51/48/50 for the Prius hatch. We also expect it to be commensurately slower than the hatch, which is the very definition of unswift—we clocked a 2010 model at 10.0 seconds to 60 for a comparison test.
Pricing has yet to be formally established, but Toyota executives said that we should expect a slight premium over the hatchback.
As we have reported before, the Prius line will not stop with the v. Within a year, two more Priuses—the plug-in Prius and the cheaper, smaller Prius c—will be whirring onto the scene, with another eight hybrid models joining the worldwide Toyota product family in years to come. Whether the additional gas-electrics will be more Prius variants isn’t yet clear, but one thing’s for sure: eco-hippies will have a lot more choices.
Toyota took the wraps off its long-awaited second Prius model, the upcoming Prius v (for “versatility”) at the 2011 Detroit auto show. Scheduled to go on sale this summer as a 2012 model, this most practical of Priuses is measurably larger than the familiar hatchback—the v is 6.1 inches longer, 1.2 inches wider, 3.3 inches taller, and rides on a wheelbase stretched by 3.1 inches. Still, in spite of the larger frontal area and longer roof, the Prius v’s coefficient of drag is claimed to be a low 0.29. And despite sharing no body panels with the hatchback, no one will mistake it for anything but a Prius.
So what effect did the dimensional stretching have? Mostly in gained cargo and rear-seat leg- and headroom. It seats five, not the seven many predicted, but the wagon body swells cargo room to a considerable 34 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Seats fold 60/40 for even more space, and if that’s not enough, the front passenger seat folds flat, too. Rear seats slide fore and aft, and offer a 45-degree recline function, the better with which to enjoy the available panoramic sunroof, which is made from resin. Using the material, Toyota says, offers a 40 percent reduction in weight compared to glass, as well as excellent heat management.
The Prius v whirs along using the same 134-hp hybrid powertrain as the Prius hatchback. Thanks to more mass and different aerodynamics, however, the Prius v is expected to achieve EPA ratings of 42 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 40 mpg combined versus 51/48/50 for the Prius hatch. We also expect it to be commensurately slower than the hatch, which is the very definition of unswift—we clocked a 2010 model at 10.0 seconds to 60 for a comparison test.
Pricing has yet to be formally established, but Toyota executives said that we should expect a slight premium over the hatchback.
As we have reported before, the Prius line will not stop with the v. Within a year, two more Priuses—the plug-in Prius and the cheaper, smaller Prius c—will be whirring onto the scene, with another eight hybrid models joining the worldwide Toyota product family in years to come. Whether the additional gas-electrics will be more Prius variants isn’t yet clear, but one thing’s for sure: eco-hippies will have a lot more choices.
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