The leading auto giant in the world, Toyota has first launched this ground-breaking hybrid in India in 2010. In spite of having limited sales for the car, the Japanese automaker has been selling this car here in the country for six years now and is now going to introduce a new generation model of the same. Combined with a new futuristic design,updated drivetrain and powertrain, the new Prius hybrid will reportedly make its presence into the segment by the first quarter of 2017, almost a year after its public debut at the 2016 Auto Expo.
Visually, the car has sharper corners as well as got an aggressive front fascia and a more contemporary back. Besides, it has also come up with increased dimensions. Putting the details on the ground, the car has increased in size in terms of length, width and height by 60 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm over its predecessor while the wheelbase is same and stands at 2700 mm. The Boot capacity has also been extended from 445 litres to 502 litres.
Underpinned by new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, the 2017 Prius hybrid will be powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine that is tuned to churn out a good enough of power i.e. 97.8 Bhp along with 142 Nm of torque. In addition, the new generation Prius has also got a new lithium-ion battery, nickel-metal battery, and a plug-in hybrid globally. It is not confirmed yet but the India-bound model will possibly house a nickel-metal battery that will be placed below the rear seats. As the company claims, the performance of the unit has also been improved sports 10 percent increase in fuel economy and a 40 percent increase in thermal efficiency.
Apart from the these, the company has also made some tweaks to the vehicle in order to give it a better drivable shot. It comprises an independent rear suspension that will boost the handling as well as will concretize the chassis by 60 percent. On the aesthetic, the car receives boomerang shaped bi-beam LED headlights, daytime running lights, 17-inch 5 spoke alloy wheels with blacked out C-pillars and LED taillights.
Inside the cabin, it will be offered with a 4.2-inch digital instrument panel, new automatic climate control system colour head-up display, and air conditioning system. The infotainment system will come in the form of a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment unit along with six speakers and connectivity options such as Bluetooth, USB, AUX, and Siri eyes-free mode.
Expected to be available in the price bucket of INR 30 lakh to INR 40 lakh (Ex-showroom Delhi). Just like the previous model, the new 2017 Prius Hybrid will also be accessible in the Indian auto segment via CBU (Completely Built Unit) route. With the government is offering incentives on alternative fuel powered vehicles, Toyota is also thinking of assembling the Prius locally in near future.
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