What Is It?
2004 Toyota Prius
What's Special About It?
Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan a few years before it brought it to U.S. shores. That was in 1997, so the carmaker can lay claim to being the first to bring a modern hybrid to market. Now comes the second generation of that ever so green car, that, like the Six Million Dollar Man (or should I say, the AOL man?) is bigger, stronger and faster than before.
A teardrop-shaped, five-door body gives the new Prius an extremely low (0.26) coefficient of drag, promising better fuel efficiency and a quieter ride. It's also more efficient with space, with the larger cabin vaulting the car from compact to midsize status. A six-inch-longer wheelbase provides more legroom, and a "smart entry" option allows the driver (with key fob in pocket) to get in, start (via a starter button) and drive the Prius away without touching a key.
Under that snub-nosed body is a revamped Hybrid propulsion system. The electric motor boasts 50 percent more power, that, according to Toyota officials, drops the 0-to-60-mph time from the mid-12-second range to the mid-10s. And average fuel economy is expected to rise from the high-40-mpg range to the mid-50s. With 90 percent fewer emissions than a standard gasoline engine, the 2004 Prius will be SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) rated.
With nearly 400 new patents, there is a number of intriguing technologies aboard the Prius, such as air conditioning that is entirely electric (which reduces power loss for the engine) as well as drive-by-wire throttle and gear selector controls.
One might expect a healthy price jump in light of all the money invested in the new Prius, but Toyota executives promised it wouldn't sticker for much more than the current gas sipper.
Why Should You Care?
Now with Honda having a Civic Hybrid sedan, Toyota responds with this much improved Prius. Looks like a gas sipper shoot-out is on the Edmunds horizon. —John DiPietro
2004 Toyota Prius
What's Special About It?
Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan a few years before it brought it to U.S. shores. That was in 1997, so the carmaker can lay claim to being the first to bring a modern hybrid to market. Now comes the second generation of that ever so green car, that, like the Six Million Dollar Man (or should I say, the AOL man?) is bigger, stronger and faster than before.
A teardrop-shaped, five-door body gives the new Prius an extremely low (0.26) coefficient of drag, promising better fuel efficiency and a quieter ride. It's also more efficient with space, with the larger cabin vaulting the car from compact to midsize status. A six-inch-longer wheelbase provides more legroom, and a "smart entry" option allows the driver (with key fob in pocket) to get in, start (via a starter button) and drive the Prius away without touching a key.
Under that snub-nosed body is a revamped Hybrid propulsion system. The electric motor boasts 50 percent more power, that, according to Toyota officials, drops the 0-to-60-mph time from the mid-12-second range to the mid-10s. And average fuel economy is expected to rise from the high-40-mpg range to the mid-50s. With 90 percent fewer emissions than a standard gasoline engine, the 2004 Prius will be SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) rated.
With nearly 400 new patents, there is a number of intriguing technologies aboard the Prius, such as air conditioning that is entirely electric (which reduces power loss for the engine) as well as drive-by-wire throttle and gear selector controls.
One might expect a healthy price jump in light of all the money invested in the new Prius, but Toyota executives promised it wouldn't sticker for much more than the current gas sipper.
Why Should You Care?
Now with Honda having a Civic Hybrid sedan, Toyota responds with this much improved Prius. Looks like a gas sipper shoot-out is on the Edmunds horizon. —John DiPietro
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