History, ultimately, will decide if the Toyota Prius is a harbinger of a bright automotive hybrid future or one more technological dead end. But right now it's hard to argue that there's a higher-profile, more culturally significant automobile for sale. After all, if people buy exotic Italian sports cars to make a statement about who they are, then people are buying the Toyota Prius for exactly the same reason.
It's just that the Toyota Prius says something completely different from what a sports car says.
The Toyota Prius is a full parallel hybrid. That is, it has both a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine and a battery pack that supplies juice to a companion electric motor. The onboard computer engages each of those drivetrain components depending on driving circumstances, with the goal of sustained maximum efficiency. The batteries are recharged directly by the internal combustion engine, turning the electric motor as a generator or through "regenerative braking" that has the rotation of the tires themselves turning the generator to send current to the battery pack. It's a high-tech power exchange that Toyota Prius drivers can follow on dashboard displays while they drive.
The Toyota Prius entered production back in 1997 as a limited-production, Japanese-market-only vehicle as Toyota gained experience with the leading-edge technology. When the frumpy four-door Prius finally came to North America in 2001 it was again on a relatively limited basis, with modest sales expectations.
The introduction of the second-generation Prius in 2004, with its slick five-door body and slicker drivetrain(s), was when the Prius became a full-fledged consumer product and sold in significant numbers. By the middle of the 21st century's first decade, the Toyota Prius' distinctive profile and high-profile ownership had marked it as a cultural touchstone.
Celebrity owners may have pushed the Toyota Prius forward into America's collective conscience, but it's the car's comfort, utility and easygoing nature that have made it popular with buyers. After all, buying a Toyota Prius may say good things about a buyer, but even Prius buyers want a car that works well.
