CARS OF THE WORLD

Toyota Prius 2023.

New Toyota Prius 2023 unveiled: Fifth-generation hybrid gets spectacular design.

In mid-November, the twenty-second in Japan, the premiere of the new-generation Toyota Prius 2023 hybrid (fifth in a row) took place.

Designers of the brand have clearly tried to make the appearance of the model as spectacular as possible.

In particular, the five-door liftback in the new body received a more wedge-shaped silhouette.

It has a heavily sloped windshield that flows as discreetly as possible into the sloping roofline.

On the side, the new 2024 Toyota Prius draws attention with glossy black fender flares that can accommodate wheels up to 19 inches in diameter.

With the change of generation, the hybrid received a more aggressive face with C-shaped LED headlights.

As for its stern, the design of the lanterns was again revised — from now on they are made in the form of a single narrow strip.

The interior of the model has also undergone significant changes and has become more traditional.

For example, the virtual tidy screen (at 7.0 inches) is now located in the usual place, while on its predecessor it was in the center of the front panel.

Now a multimedia system tablet has settled on top of the latter.

Among other innovations, it is worth noting the “moving” of the transmission control joystick from the center console to the tunnel, and the climate control button unit has acquired a separate display.

Toyota Prius 2023 in a new body was the first model of the Japanese brand, built on an improved version of the TNGA “trolley”.

However, the chassis architecture has not changed: MacPherson struts are used in front, and an independent two-lever in the back.

As before, the hybrid’s traction battery is located under the rear sofa, but the developers managed to achieve a lower center of gravity.

In parallel, they increased the rigidity of the body — all this should give the car a more driver-like character.

As for dimensions, the new 5th generation Toyota Prius reaches a length of 4,600 mm (+ 25 mm compared to its predecessor), a width of 1,780 (+ 20), and a height of 1,430 (- 40).

The wheelbase of the model has been stretched to 2,750 mm (+50). The car also received an increased front overhang (+25) and a shortened rear overhang (-50).

As before, the liftback is offered as both a base (HEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and from now on they have the same exterior design and differ from each other only in wheels.

The new Prius retained the branded hybrid transmission with an electromechanical variator that combines the thrust of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.

The initial version still has a 1.8-liter gasoline engine, but the total power of the units has increased to 140 hp. (+18).

Acceleration from zero to hundreds is possible in 9.3 seconds.

The HEV version of the model can also be ordered with a 2.0-liter aspirated.

In this case, the peak output of the installation reaches 193 «horses», and acceleration from 0-100 km / h is given in 7.5 seconds.

For both modifications of the Toyota Prius 2023, the E-Four all-wheel drive system is available, which involves the installation of an additional electric motor on the rear axle.

As for the rechargeable PHEV hybrid, now the Japanese are positioning it as a “hot” version of the model.

It is driven by a 2.0-liter Dynamic Force aspirated engine with 148 hp. and a traction electric motor, which for the first time in the history of the model turned out to be more powerful than an internal combustion engine — it produces 160 forces.

The total output of these units reaches 223 hp, while the model of the previous generation had only 122 “horses”.

This allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. Note that the plugged-in Prius requires a 16.3 kWh lithium-ion traction battery (was 8.8 kWh).

Due to this, in electric mode, it can travel one and a half times more than its predecessor.

By the way, Toyota still considers the new 5th generation Prius the most efficient hybrid in the class.

Moreover, specifically for the rechargeable version, you can order a solar panel built into the panoramic roof, which can provide up to 1,250 free kilometers per year.

Additionally, the model boasts the presence of two household outlets (one in the trunk, and the second in the cabin). They allow you to connect electrical appliances with a power of up to 1,500 watts.

And in the equipment of the hybrid, there is a complex of electronic assistants «Toyota Safety Sense», which includes a front camera and an automatic parking system (with remote control).

The first to appear on the market is a conventional hybrid, and this will happen in the coming months, and in the spring of the twenty-third, a rechargeable version will appear on sale.

Interestingly, in some markets (for example, in Europe), the new Toyota Prius 2023 will be offered exclusively in PHEV version, there is no information on the cost yet.