drive
New Toyota Prius: a lighter, more fuel-efficient generation of cars
The Prius IV will be one of the highlights of the Toyota pavilion at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, September 10, 2015.Toyota recently presented the 4th generation Prius in Las Vegas, a car that the Japanese company will unveil to the public at the world premiere of the vehicle during the Frankfurt International Motor Show, taking place from September 17 to 27.
The new Toyota Prius is the company's first vehicle to incorporate the new "Toyota New Global Architecture" (TNGA) platform. This revolution in how Toyota designs and builds its cars will bring about significant improvements to the next generation's specs.
The chassis weight will decrease by over 150kg, while increased rigidity, a lower centre of gravity and better suspension on the new platform will provide a better driving experience. The new drive unit will also raise the hybrid efficiency "by more than 15%" according to Toyota, enabling the Prius IV to achieve 57.5mpg combined (almost 59 in the city and 55 on the highway).
Developments on the battery mean it will now be smaller, leaving more room for trunk space. In addition, the Prius IV will come equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, security measures born out of Toyota's desire to eliminate traffic injuries and fatalities.
Toyota Safety Sense was developed with three key things in mind: a Pre-Collision System for supporting collision avoidance or mitigating damage, Lane Departure Alert for helping to prevent deviation from traffic lanes and automatic high beams to enhance front visibility at night.
All specifics regarding engine output, availability and prices for the new Prius will be released at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
The Toyota Prius is an iconic car, a pioneer in hybrid technology that was first released in Japan in 1997 before expanding around the world starting in 2000.
In addition to the new Prius, Toyota could also use the event for the world premiere of a new compact crossover, based on the C-HR concept presented at the Paris Auto Show in 2014. One step down from the RAV4, this car would enter the market as a direct competitor to the Nissan Qashqai.
Elsewhere, Toyota's luxury division, Lexus, could use Frankfurt to present its restyled GS. The new sedan will have a redesigned front and new active security equipment (Lexus Safety System +).
Frankfurt will also be the stage for the European premiere of the next-gen Lexus RX, the SUV having already been presented this spring in New York.
The 66th Frankfurt International Motor Show will take place from September 17 to 27. For more information, visit iaa.de. – AFP/Relaxnews, September 10, 2015.
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