![]() That transmission is the true arbiter of whether you’ll enjoy the new Prius, whether you will actually find it fun to drive. Still, whatever Toyota’s claimed intentions, this was never going to be transformed into a performance machine. The power output still sounds measly – 97hp – but the battery can bring this up to 121hp. ![]() Yet everything has either been redesigned or completely re-engineered, with a new compact battery that’s been moved to beneath the rear seat, freeing up extra boot space. Mechanically it sounds the same as before, a 1.8-litre petrol engine with battery assistance. Prices start at £23,295, a £1,200 hike, but still looking like good value. The design certainly stands out, and in a good way: lower, longer, sleeker, with lots of new technology included as part of the basic package. Now we enter a brave new world for Toyota, for it’s launching the fourth generation Prius as a stylish, fun-to-drive machine that even someone like me might buy. It gradually got less, well, ugly, and the third generation was actually OK. It looked like the front, the middle and the back were designed by three people working in parallel universes. Looking back, it’s even hard to image how anyone bought the original 1997 Prius. ![]() If you liked motoring with your hat on, the Prius was for you. The hybrid from Toyota has been an earnest do-gooder, piling on the miles with the minimal of nasty emissions from its tailpipe and minimal input from its drivers. In the history of this planet, not one person has ever bought a Prius for its entertainment value. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |