The New 2009 Prius

Performance

The new model is powered by a 1.8 liter petrol engine. This is larger than previous models, which used a 1.5 liter engine. This gives the car more power and better highway performance, but Toyota has improved the engine to ensure that it uses no extra gas than before.

They have also made the body more streamlined than before which helps reduce fuel consumption, especially at higher speeds.

The car can also be run in three engine modes: all petrol, all battery or most economical which is where the car decides for itself what is the most efficient combination for fuel efficiency. This seems to be a bit of a gimmick, as those looking for a performance vehicle are unlikely to buy a Prius in the first place.

Mileage for this vehicle is in the vicinity of 46 miles per gallon.

2009 Prius Safety

The new model has a front mounted radar system that tracks both your speed and the distance between you and the car in front. When it calculates you are likely to crash, it gives you a warning on the dash to brake and increases the braking effectiveness automatically.

If a collision is unavoidable, the car will start braking by itself to reduce the damage. It will also tighten the front seat belts to minimize the chance of injury to you. It sounds a bit like a Star Wars vehicle! Needless to say it's got airbags galore and sensors to assist in dent-free parking.

The steering wheel also incorporates two iPod like control wheels that allow you to adjust things in the car such as stereo volume, air conditioning and so on. The information for these systems is shown in a little screen mounted under the windshield in the driver's line of sight of the road.

The idea here is that you don't need to be peering down into the car looking for radio control buttons, which again increases the amount of time you spend looking at the road and hence reduces your risk of crashing.

Mind you, they still have no solution for the driver behind crashing into you.

Passenger Comfort

There's more rear leg room in this model which makes it more functional from a people moving perspective. The air conditioning can be turned on by remote and runs off the battery, so the car can be cooled by the time you get into it.

As previously, the roof solar panels power the ventilation system that operates while the car is turned off. It's a bit of a shame that Toyota has not gone all out with the solar panels for charging the battery, but the consumer market tends not to react well to radical changes. No doubt we'll see that sort of thing cropping up in the near future.

Availability

This 2009 Prius model should be hitting the car yards either later this year or early next year. The current Prius is priced at $22,000 USD, and the soon to be released model is expected to be a similar price.

See It On Video

Have a look at the new model at the Detroit Auto Show:

Company Stated Specifics

1.8-litre four-cylinder engine

Engine horsepower: 98hp (73kW) @ 5,200rpm

Engine torque: 105 lb-ft (142Nm) @ 4,000rpm

Electric motor power output: 80 hp/153 lb-ft torque (60kW/207Nm)

Hybrid system net horsepower: 134 hp (100kW)

Reviewed: 14 March 2009

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