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2004 Toyota Prius
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| A new kind of hybrid, revisited |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:47:38 |
| Rating |
 316 ( -44 -13.92% ) | | Author | Sue Mead |
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Description:
2004 Toyota Prius
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With its latest generation 2004 Prius version, Toyota is clearly redefining what consumers will come to expect in a hybrid passenger car.
A longer wheelbase, increased engine output, lower emissions and improved electronic technology throughout make the newest Prius a legitimate everyday car.
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Inside, the hybrid is roomier and has more standard features. A "start" button is where the traditional, key-activated transmission would be, and a multi-information display panel is tucked into the middle of the dash, where the speedometer and tach might be on an Echo.
The advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive system in this new-generation Prius will be the basis of many future hybrid vehicles from Toyota and Lexus, including SUVs, such as the RX330 Hybrid that will come to market next year.
Tarrytown, NY -- Toyota representatives claim that the introduction of its 2004 Prius is a worldwide premier of global significance. While it's not an all-new car, there are a few things about the second-generation Prius to now be sold in the U.S. that make that statement ring true. Although it was launched in Japan some six years ago, and this Japanese automaker has only sold some 125,000 Prius vehicles, it's clear that Toyota is now moving from niche market to mainstream, with its latest generation 2004 version, and is clearly redefining what consumers will come to expect in a hybrid passenger car, at a time when many manufacturers are still promising a first-generation hybrid.
So, what's new? Many things, including an improved, more aerodynamic exterior (its drag co-efficient is .26, which Toyota claims, for its size and class, is about as good as it gets); a greatly refined and upgraded interior with many amenities and upscale options typically found in much more costly models; and the same uninspiring performance that makes gearheads cringe and environmentalists cheer. However, don't be fooled and think the Prius doesn't have the power to be a mainstream player in traffic. It does and, in fact, moves from zero to sixty in 10.5 seconds, which is two seconds quicker than previous numbers, and travels from 30-50 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed 105. It's not a science project!
Despite its polarizing effect, Toyota's air-friendly hybrid continues to deliver what it promises: more than 50 miles to the gallon, a comfortable ride and efficient design that takes up little space and leaves only a tiny environmental footprint. But, this time around, Toyota believes it will have a broader appeal that goes beyond the "early adopters" who stepped up to the plate for the original Prius.
Introduced in 1997, the Prius elicited this response from at least one car critic: "I have seen the future, and man is it slow." The car also won praise from those who have been pushing carmakers to add less-polluting models to their lineup, especially as they added gas-guzzling SUV after SUV to assembly lines.
Toyota showcased the new Prius at the Detroit auto show in January this year, where it also featured two forthcoming fuel cell vehicles that are part of this Japanese automaker' s decade-old fuel cell development program. The two vehicles, referred to as FCHV and FCHV-4, are based on Toyota's Highlander SUV and are currently in use in a pilot zero-emissions effort at the University of California, Irvine and University of California, Davis.
A longer wheelbase, increased engine output, lower emissions and improved electronic technology throughout make the newest Prius a legitimate everyday car, capable of making the morning commute and the holiday drive home with equal ease and comfort.
We found the new version capable and visibly freshened in many ways. Silent when stopped, it has typical engine noise under power, with improved brakes that slow it in a measured manner. Steering and overall ride are comfortable, with a bright and roomy interior, considering its exterior packaging.
The updated exterior is both futuristic and eye-catching, a vast improvement over the Echo-like shell of last year's model. The steeply raked windshield, tall B-pillar and arched rear end make for an almost domed look akin to the new Beetle. A pointed nose and narrow headlamps are not quite 'sporty,' as Toyota calls them, but they look sharp. Overall dimensions are bigger (including a five-inch stretch in the wheelbase to 100.4 inches), making Prius a mid-sized vehicle, not a compact. Notable are the improved lift-back utility, with an improved angle for cargo, and a fold-flat front seat that also increases stowage.
The power plant is a hybrid system that includes a permanent magnet-type, 40 hp electric motor and a 1.5-liter 16-valve VVT-i 4-cylinder with aluminum double overhead cam (DOHC) that creates 70 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque. The net output of the system is 98 hp, or about as much as a typical compact car; hydrocarbon output is about 30 percent less than last year's model.
Matched to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission, the engine puts out 50 kilowatts and 500 volts, up from 33 kW and about 300 volts. Mileage is 51 mpg on the highway, 60 mpg in the city. Combined mileage estimate is 55 mpg.
Inside, the hybrid is roomier and has more standard features. A "start" button is where the traditional, key-activated transmission would be, and a multi-information display panel is tucked into the middle of the dash, where the speedometer and tach might be on an Echo. Standard features include power windows/doors/locks/mirrors, a tilt steering wheel and cupholders and audio system. New technology includes a sensor system instead of a key, which detects when the driver is close to the vehicle and unlocks it, and electrically-driven systems such as the CFC-free air conditioning. Options include a new navigation system with improved graphics and a Blue Tooth Hands-Free /Voice Recognition system.
Standard safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, driver and front passenger airbags, child seat tethers, three-point seat belts for all seating positions, daytime running lights and a security system.
With its futuristic styling and increased performance, Prius may always appeal more to those whose environmental conscience is stronger than their love for a roaring motor and soaring horsepower. But with gas prices on the rise and the future of oil prices uncertain, hybrid cars are increasingly looking like more than just a science project or a clever idea for tree-huggers. Prius, with its improved power and performance, is a hybrid for the rest of us.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2004 Pruis go on sale and how many new models does Toyota expect to sell?
Although the official on-sale date was October 17, nearly 10,000 orders were placed ahead of that date.
What is the fuel economy of the new Prius?
Prius has an EPA fuel economy rating of 60 MPG in the city and 51 MPG on the highway with a combined city/highway rating of 55 MPG. The estimated mileage ratings represent a significant increase over the previous-generation Prius, which registered a combined fuel economy rating of 48 MPG.
What's new with the second-generation Prius?
The new 2004 Prius has increased in size from a compact-class sedan to mid-size sedan; has more power and now accelerates on a par with the Camry LE; boasts 30 percent lower emissions than the first-generation Prius; has optional the Smart Entry and Start system; optional curtain/side airbags; optional enhanced Vehicle Stability Control; and the same $19,995 MSRP as the original Prius.
What is the warranty on the battery and how much does it weigh?
Prius's battery is warranted for 8 years, 100,000 miles nationally with the exception of NY, CA, and MA, where it is warranted for 10 years. Its battery weight has been reduced from 76 to 45 kilograms of total battery mass from the 1st to 3rd generation. (There have been only two versions sold in the U.S.)
Who does Toyota expect will buy the new Prius and how many do they expect to sell?
Buyers were originally 28 percent female and are now more than 50 percent female; many will cross shop Camry and Corolla sedans. Sales the first year were 12,000. Last year's target was 17,000 and Toyota sold more than 20,000. Hopes for the '04 model are for 36,000.
Reviewer's Notes
Note: The advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive system in this new-generation Prius will be the basis of many future hybrid vehicles from Toyota and Lexus, including SUVs, such as the RX330 Hybrid that will come to market next year.)
2004 Toyota Prius Specifications
Base Price: $19, 995
Engine: 1.5-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder/permanent magnet electric motor (net power: 98 hp)
Transmission: Electronically-controlled, continuously variable
Wheelbase: 100.4
Length: 169.6 in
Width: 66.7 in
Height: 57.6 in
Weight: 2,765 lb
Fuel economy (estimated): 52/45 mpg
Standard safety equipment: Anti-lock brakes, child seat LATCH system, dual, multi-stage front airbags, three-point seatbelts and daytime running lights
Major standard equipment: AM/FM/cassette stereo, CFC-free air conditioning, power windows/doors/locks/mirrors, keyless sensor entry
---Story by Sue Mead
---Photos courtesy of Toyota
© 2003, Sue Mead, All Rights Reserved. |
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