Toyota 2010 Prius sedan hybrid car (3G)

Despite many improvements, this new version does not surprise. The Prius will be 3's ability to remain a market leader in hybrid's increasingly competitive.

The 2010 Prius, which was unveiled at the International Auto Show North American Detroit and is scheduled to supply Toyota dealers for this spring, offers more performance with a new Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

The Prius has provided for over a decade to more than a million motorists fuel economy coupled with superior ultra low emissions. These 10 years of proven success are a vivid demonstration of reliable performance and lasting solution to the leader among hybrid vehicles.

The 2010 Prius sedan third Generation (3G) offers a lower consumption than ever, improved performance and innovative features. It is quieter, more spacious and better equipped with standard features and optional advanced that the current Prius. For example:

The first transparent roof with solar panels that supply an air conditioning system intelligent Toyota;
A choice of four modes of conduct;
The first intelligent system to aid parking on a Toyota;
The touch wheel with the status display on the dashboard.

Environmental Ambassador

The first generation Prius was first on the market in 1997 as the first hybrid vehicle produced in series in the world. The name Prius (“who goes before" in Latin) symbolizes the status of pioneer of this car which was launched even before environmental consciousness became predominant in society.

Created from scratch and developed in-house, the full hybrid Toyota has become a main vehicle for technical development of vehicles. The Hybrid Synergy exclusive manufacturer was launched in 2004 as the 2nd generation Prius.

In designing the new 3rd generation Prius, Toyota's engineers have combined appropriate refinements made to existing systems with an important new technologies considered essential for the future of the automobile.

Fuel economy and environmental performance

The new Prius will be manufactured using processes that reduce pollution at all life stages of vehicle production, useful life and disposal. The 3rd generation Prius will reduce fuel consumption that has marked the evolution of the model:

The 1st generation Prius was a symbol of combined city / hwy 4.6 L/100 km.
The combined ratings of the Prius 2nd generation (current) were even better, or 4.1 L/100 km.
The use of a combination of new technologies, new materials and new engineering concepts to reduce the estimated consumption of the Prius in 2010 to 3.7 L/100 km city and 4.0 L/100 km on the road, for a combined rating of 3.8 L/100 km.

Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) the best hybrid on the planet changed at 90% for 2010

Unlike most hybrids, the Prius hybrid system uses a "complete" upon his arrival on the market. It can be powered by its gasoline engine alone, its electric motor alone or a combination of both. The Toyota system combines the best qualities of the series hybrid system and parallel in order to operate in electric mode and can only charge the battery while the car is in motion.

The new Prius will offer three modes of conduct in addition to the normal mode:

The only electric (EV) is used to run at low speed only with battery power for about one miles if conditions permit;
The power increases the sensitivity of the accelerator for a sportier feel;
The green helps the driver to save fuel at the most.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system (HSD) patented the 2010 Prius is 90% new design and offers significant improvements over previous models.

The deck box is lighter and reduces the loss of torque up to 20% compared to the previous model.
The inverter, which converts direct current into alternating current, has a new cooling system which produces a direct reduction of size and weight.
Together, inverter, electric motor and the box-bridge are more compact and are also lighter than 20%.
A new braking system with electronic recovery logic for increasing its production of electricity was adopted.

The new Prius is powered by a gasoline engine 4-cylinder 1.8-liter, bigger and more powerful than its predecessor. Contrary to what one might think, the bigger engine will help improve energy efficiency on the road. Indeed, because it produces more torque, the new engine can turn a low to medium speed. Since it turns more slowly, the new engine will consume less fuel. Energy efficiency is improved after a cold start and high speed.

The use of an electric water pump and a new system of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) also contribute to the performance of the new engine. The 1.8 liter engine in the Prius is the first Toyota engine to use any drive belt, which reduces the need for maintenance in addition to raising energy efficiency.

A multifunction screen that displays data on fuel consumption and energy is standard on the new Prius. It gives you feedback on the performance of the Prius by using three different displays to help the driver to develop economical driving habits.

Style changed

The aerodynamics were very important for designers of the new Prius. Their goal was to create a beautiful styling without compromising functionality. They have retained the form of dynamic triangle in which one recognizes instantly the Prius, but they have changed the general profile as the position and angle of the amounts of the car.

The height of the vehicle is the same, but it has changed the profile of the roof falling in the top 99 mm. This change increases the wedge shape of the Prius, and it also has the advantage of increasing the ceiling height at the back and improves aerodynamics.

The front and rear corners of the new Prius make it look smooth or glossy, aerodynamic sport. Strong character lines run through the car from front to rear to emphasize its geometric shape. Back view, the wider track of the car gives it a strong enough.

The wheelbase of the new Prius is the same as the current model. As against, its length has increased by about 15.2 mm, in part because the overhead roof has been advanced.

Cx the lowest in the world

The new Prius has received more hours of wind tunnel tests than any other Toyota model, which allows appearing as the vehicle produced in series to the airfoil the most efficient in the world. All this means less drag, therefore more energy efficient and even quieter rolling than before.

By focusing on the shape of the bodywork, the underside of body, the lining of the wheel arches and the shape of wheels, the designers of the new Prius have managed to reduce the coefficient of drag (Cd) of the car to 0.25, compared to 0.26 for the previous model. The airflow under the car was the subject of intensive study. The engineers were able to make changes to the shape of the lining of wings and the front surface of the underside of cash, plus add a wing to cover under the rear floor to improve the linear stability.

The equipment evolved to a new era

The transparent roof panel sliding carries solar panels mounted over the rear seats, which are fueling a new ventilation system. The electric motor movement of the ventilation system to solar power does not consume any energy from the engine. This system prevents the temperature rise in the cabin while the car is parked; reducing the cooling time required when one takes the vehicle and reduces the need for air conditioning.

The air conditioning system of the new Prius is the only one in the world to run exclusively on battery power and to provide remote, allowing the driver to bring the cabin temperature comfortable before entering the car.

Crossing lights to LED (light emitting diodes) as an option as well as tail lights and LED stop help reduce energy consumption of the vehicle. The air conditioning system, a large energy consumer, has been improved to become more efficient and effective. In addition, a system of recirculation the exhaust heat reduces the heat wasted in heating the engine coolant after a cold start, which improves performance and also has the effect of warming the cabin faster.

Improved performance

The next generation Prius is built on a new platform that gives it a dress more stable, quieter operation and greater safety in case of collision. As before, the suspension uses leg strength to the front and a torsion beam (torsion beam functions both as wheel-locating arm and as an anti-roll bar) rear intercooler, but the dress was made more stable by improving the provision of stabilizers, for an angle of hunting large and a recalibration pads. The braking system now uses four-wheel discs rather than the configuration disc brakes in front and drums at the rear of the current model.

To reduce weight, the bonnet, tailgate, the axes of the front suspension and brake calipers are aluminum and the inner side skirts, the amounts and the central roof reinforcements are steel ultra high strength.

Improved soundproofing has been installed at various locations, combined with better vibration damping; it has reduced the road noise in the cabin.

Interior functional and more spacious

Proof that small changes can lead to significant gains, the load compartment of the new Prius has been extended by 10 mm and 56 mm wider thanks to a new and improved cooling unit of the battery.

The legroom in the rear has been increased by redesigning the front seats in order to save space.

Views of the cockpit, the lines of the central instruments seamlessly extend the scoreboard until the central block. A practical storage space was added under the shifter, one of the advantages of shifting to electronic. The air vents aligned with the effective appearance of the passenger compartment. Silver linings carefully placed to add the allure of the high-tech interior.

Tactile sensors mounted at the wheel, has a role to reduce the need for the driver to move the eyes to enable him to concentrate on the road. When the driver's finger touches the key audio or info button mounted on the steering wheel, an image displayed on the dashboard directly under his eyes. Touch Tracer known, this system is the first in the world can see the scoreboard the effect of an action command on a mounted drive.

The ECO indicator displayed on the multifunction display gives the driver information that helps reduce fuel consumption.

In an effort to develop new advanced technologies for the realization of a sustainable transportation, Toyota will use carbon neutral plastics derived from plants in the 2010 Prius. Called "green plastic", these new materials developed will be used to foam seat cushions, trim side awning, inside and outside of the door sill and the recovery of the load. Ecological plastics emit less CO2 in their life cycle (from production to scrapping) than plastic-based oil and they also contribute to reduce the use of oil.

Improvements in security plan

The new Prius has been designed to meet the most stringent in terms of safety in case of collision of each of the regions of the world where it is sold, and also to meet the safety standards more stringent in the future.

The safety equipment serial Prius includes eight airbags (Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with advanced front airbags, driver and passenger side airbags in front and rear curtain and side airbags, seat-mounted front side driver and passenger, and protective pads for knees) to protect occupants in case of accident.

Both front seats are fitted with the system active headrests Toyota to reduce the possibility of whiplash in a collision. An antilock brake system (ABS), a distributor of electronic braking force (EBD), a device Brake Assist (BA), traction control is electronic (TRAC) and a control system of the vehicle stability ( VSC) are standard on the Prius behaves in an exemplary manner whatever the weather.

A dynamic cruise control, which works with millimeter wave radar perfected, will be offered as an option. This radar also transmits data to the pre-collision option, which retracts the seat belts and brakes in certain conditions when the vehicle determines that a collision is unavoidable.

A new intelligent assistance for a new generation terminal is equipped with simple settings to help the driver steer the car in a parking space.

A reversing camera, which shows the obstacles that are at the rear of the vehicle, is available with the navigation system with voice control optional.

The development of the Prius has required the filing of more than 1 000 applications for patents in all countries of the world.

The price of the Prius in 2010 will be announced shortly before the sale of the new model, which is scheduled for late spring.

Ref.: http://www.toyota.com/