To begin with, the chassis is now 60% more rigid while center of gravity is lower, which has boosted the car's comfort and stability. The powertrain too has been placed lower and all these changes together have had a significant change in the way it performs. The Prius now promises a 10% fuel economy improvement and a 40% increase in thermal efficiency.
The newly developed nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery is smaller than before, but more durable and with an increased charging performance and it's this compactness that makes it better than its predecessor.
Also Read: New-Gen Toyota Prius Will Deliver 40Km/l
The all-new Prius is 60 mm longer, 15 mm wider and 20 mm lower than the previous generation and this change translates into a more spacious cabin for the passengers as well as more trunk space. The change in the suspension setup too has a significant effect on the way it drives.
The result of the new front suspension and rear double wishbone suspension is that it drives like a breeze. On the safety front, there are tons of features included like the lane departure alert, pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beam and many others.
There will be seven colours on offer and though the exteriors are extremely flambouyant compared to its predecessor, the interior is a bit familiar. It comes with a centre-mounted dash along with glossy white plastics, generously-sized display for the infotainment system and a new three-spoke steering wheel. If you look closely, the shape of the air vents has been changed and the tiny gear lever too is very noticeable.
The car will go on sale in Europe at the end of this year and we think that Toyota will showcase the car at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo, which will be a great platform to show it off to the Indian crowd. Once in India, the Prius will benefit from the Government of India's FAME scheme and we will see a drop in price of the car thanks to this. Toyota already has the Camry hybrid in India which benefits hugely because of this scheme.
