Toyota Prius From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Toyota Prius Manufacturer Toyota Production 1997–present Compact car (1997–2003) Class Mid-size car (2003–present) Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive The Toyota Prius ( / ˈ p r iː ə s /; plural: Prii, / ˈ p r iː a ɪ/) is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) rate the Prius as among the cleanest vehicles sold in the United States based on smog forming and toxic emissions.[1] The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold in more than 70 countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan and North America.[2] In May 2008, global cumulative Prius sales reached the milestone 1 million vehicle mark,[3] and in September 2010, the Prius reached worldwide cumulative sales of 2.0 million units.[2] The U.S. is the largest market, with 1 million Prii sold by early April 2011,[4] and Japan reached the 1 million mark in August 2011.[5] Since its launch in 2009, the third-generation model has sold more than 1 million units worldwide by September 2011.[6] Contents [hide] 1 Etymology and terminology 2 First generation (XW10; 1997–2003) 3 Second generation (XW20; 2003–2009) o 3.1 Safety 4 Third generation (XW30; 2009–present) o 4.1 Safety o 4.2 Plug-in Hybrid o 4.3 2011 facelift 5 Prius family 6 Sales 7 Design and technology o 7.1 EV mode o 7.2 Battery o 7.3 Battery life cycle 8 Environmental effects o 8.1 Lifetime energy usage o 8.2 Electromagnetic field levels o 8.3 Quietness 9 Marketing and culture o 9.1 CO2 advertising o 9.2 Political symbolism 10 Government and corporate incentives 11 See also 12 Notes and references 13 External links [edit] Etymology and terminology Prius is a Latin word meaning "before". According to Toyota, the name was chosen because the Prius was launched before environmental awareness became a mainstream social issue.[7] In February 2011, Toyota asked the public to decide on what the most proper plural form of Prius should be, with choices including Prien, Prii, Prium, Prius, or Priuses.[8][9] The company says "it will use the most popular choice in its advertising"[10] and on February 20 announced that "Prii" was the most popular choice, and the new official plural designation.[11] In Latin prius is the neuter singular of the comparative form (prior, prior, prius) of an adjective with only comparative and superlative (the superlative being primus, prima, primum), consequently, like all 3rd declension words, the plural in Latin was priora (cf. Latin declension). Begining in September 2011, Toyota USA began using the following names to differentiate the original Prius from some newer members of the Prius family: the standard Prius became the Prius Liftback, the Prius v (known as the Prius α in Japan, and Prius + in Europe), the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the Prius c. The last two are scheduled to be available in the market in 2012.[12][13] [edit] First generation (XW10; 1997–2003) Main article: Toyota Prius (XW10) Toyota Prius (XW10) 1997–2001 (NHW10) Production 2001–2003 (NHW11) Takaoka, later Toyota City (Motomachi), Assembly Japan [14] Body style 4-door sedan In 1995, Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show, with testing following a year later.[15] The first Prius, model NHW10, went on sale on December 10, 1997.[16][17] It was available only in Japan, though it has been imported privately to at least the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.[18] The first generation Prius, at its launch, became the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car. The NHW10 Prius styling originated from California designers, who were selected over competing designs from other Toyota design studios.[17] In the United States, the NHW11 was the first Prius to be sold. The Prius was marketed between the smaller Corolla and the larger Camry. The published retail price of the car was US$19,995.[19] The NHW11 Prius became more powerful partly to satisfy the higher speeds and longer distances that Americans drive.[20] Air conditioning and electric power steering were standard equipment.[21] The vehicle was the second mass-produced hybrid on the American market, after the two-seat Honda Insight.[22] While the larger Prius could seat five, its battery pack restricted cargo space. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) classified the car as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).[23] Prius owners were eligible for up to a US$2,000 tax credit from their gross income.[22] In contrast with the NW10, Toyota executives stated that the company broke even financially on sales of the NHW11 Prius.[22] European sales began in September 2000.[24] The official launch of the Prius in Australia occurred at the October 2001 Sydney Motor Show,[25] although sales were slow until the NHW20 model arrived. [edit] Second generation (XW20; 2003–2009) Main article: Toyota Prius (XW20) Toyota Prius (XW20) 2003–2009 (Japan) Production 2004–present (China) Tsutsumi, Japan (Toyota City) Kariya, Aichi, Japan (Fujimatsu) Assembly Changchun, Jilin, China (Chinese domestic market only) Body style 5-door liftback In 2004 the Prius was completely redesigned as a mid-size liftback, sized between the Corolla and the Camry, with redistributed mechanical and interior space significantly increasing rear-seat legroom and luggage room. The 2004 Prius is even more environmentally friendly than the 2001 model (according to the EPA), [26] [27] and is 6 inches (150 mm) longer than the previous version. Its more aerodynamic Kammback body balances length and wind resistance, resulting in Cd=0.26. The development effort, led by chief engineer Shigeyuki Hori, led to 530 patents for the vehicle.[28] The Prius uses an all-electric A/C compressor for cooling, an industry first.[29] Combined with a smaller and lighter NiMH battery, the XW20 is more powerful and more efficient than the XW10.[30] In the U.S., the battery pack of 2004 and later models is warranted for 150,000 miles (240,000 km) or 10 years in states that have adopted the stricter California emissions control standards, and 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 8 years elsewhere.[31][32] The warranty for hybrid components is 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 8 years.[33] It is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) and is certified by California Air Resources Board as an "Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle" (AT-PZEV).[34] From 2005 to 2009, the second generation Prius had been built by FAW-Toyota in the city of Changchun for the Chinese market.[35] It was reported that a total of 2,152 Prii were sold in 2006 and 414 in 2007. The relatively low sales was blamed on high price, about US$15,000 higher than the equivalent in Japan or the U.S., caused by high duties on imported parts.[36] In early March 2008, Toyota cut the price of Prius by up to eight percent or US$3,000 to RMB 259,800 (US$36,500). It was thought that the sales dropped as a result of both a lack of acceptance and increased competition. The Honda Civic Hybrid was exported to China from 2007.[37] [edit] Safety Euro NCAP test results for a RHD, 5-door hatchback variant on a 2004 registration:[38] Test Score Points Overall: N/A N/A Adult occupant: 34 Child occupant: 43 Pedestrian: 13 Safety assist: N/A N/A [edit] Third generation (XW30; 2009–present) Main article: Toyota Prius (XW30) Toyota Prius (XW30) Production March 2009–present Model years 2010–present Tsutsumi, Japan (Toyota City)[39] Chachoengsao, Thailand (December 2010- Assembly present) Changchun, Jilin, China Class Mid-size car Body style 5-door liftback Toyota debuted the new Prius (2010 US model year) at the January 2009 North American International Auto Show,[40] and sales began in Japan on May 18, 2009.[41] Toyota cut the price of the Prius from ¥2.331 million to ¥2.05 million to better compete with the Honda Insight,[42] leading some to wonder whether increased sales of the Prius might come at the expense of sales of other vehicles with higher margins. Competition from lower priced hybrids, such as the Honda Insight, also made [43] it difficult for Toyota to capitalize on the Prius's success. Its new body design is more aerodynamic, with the coefficient of drag reduced to Cd=0.25. This figure is disputed by General Motors which found the value for the model with 17" wheels to be around 0.30 based on tests in GM, Ford, and Chrysler wind tunnels.[44] An underbody rear fin helps stabilize the vehicle at higher speeds [45] The estimated fuel-efficiency rating, using the U.S. EPA combined cycle, is 50 mpg-US (4.7 L/100 km; 60 mpg-imp). The Prius was the most efficient car powered by liquid fuel available in the U.S. in 2009, based on the official rating.[46] Only the first-generation Honda Insight (2000–2006) equipped with a manual transmission attained a lower fuel consumption rate. The official UK fuel efficiency data for the Prius T3 is Urban 72.4 mpg-imp (3.90 L/100 km; 60.3 mpg-US), Extra Urban [47] 76.4 mpg-imp (3.70 L/100 km; 63.6 mpg-US), Combined 72.4 mpg-imp (3.90 L/100 km; 60.3 mpg-US).