The common combustion engine has revolutionised our world over the last century, from powering aristocracy on their first tentative miles, to today’s affordable and reliable workhorses. Unfortunately, as the use of cars and fossil fuels has increased, so has the impact on our environment. So in 1993, Toyota outlined a new target to build a low-emission car for a cleaner future.
In four short years a pioneer was born: The Prius Hybrid.
Understandably, in a world accustomed to driving petrol and diesel cars, the Prius’ revolutionary petrol and electric power caused quite a stir. Up until this point, manufacturers had endeavoured for decades to harness the two energy sources into cars – and for decades they’d failed. In 1997 however, Toyota were the first to successfully overcome the many engineering challenges and subsequently launched the Prius, the world’s first mass market hybrid.
As an innovator, the first generation model was designed to stand out – a formula newer evolutions would repeat over the years. The Californian studio responsible gave the environmentally friendly car the distinctive look it deserved: a high-booted profile, arching roofline, sharp creased sides and a slippery drag coefficient of Cd 0.29.
Under the small sedan body sat a specially designed hybrid system consisting of a fuel-efficient VVT-i 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor. This integrated package was paired with a generator and a powerful nickel-metal hydride battery, neatly tucked behind the rear seats.
The Prius’ Hybrid system had a host of clever fuel-saving solutions: from intelligently managing the power of the engine and motor to suit driving conditions, to switching the engine off when idling at a stop. But its ‘piece de resistance’ was its regenerative braking system: here kinetic energy – which previously would have been wasted as heat – was captured and turned into electricity to recharge the battery, a remarkable piece of on-the-move ‘recycling’.
For drivers, this translated into a uniquely enjoyable driving experience. At low speeds, they could navigate cities in a satisfying electric calm and, as speeds increased, the reassuring petrol-power – all with the simplicity and intuitiveness of a conventional car.
Outright performance was on a par with other petrol-powered cars of the time and, in many cases, fuel efficiency was doubled and CO2 emissions halved – more than meeting the Prius’ original brief.
Sitting inside the cabin felt fittingly futuristic. The binnacle that housed important information, such as speed and warning indicators, was now mounted centrally an easy glance away on the dashboard. Underneath sat a large LED power meter display, providing occupants with an unrivalled view of how electric and petrol power was being deployed and recharged around the hybrid system.
Advertising straplines at the time declared the new Prius “the forerunner of fossil-fuelled automobiles of the 21st Century”, and how accurate they would prove to be. Exports from Japan began in 2000, and environmentally conscious Americans in particular took the ground-breaking Prius to heart, as well as many famous faces who – through association – thrust the car into the spotlight.
The world waited with baited breath to see how Toyota could possibly improve on such a radical concept
When the time came in 2003 for the new model to be revealed, the world waited with baited breath to see how Toyota could possibly improve on such a radical concept. For the engineers, it was a daunting challenge and an incredible opportunity. Already established as an eco-conscious manufacturer, the task now was to broaden the Prius’ appeal through enhanced environmental credentials, improved performance and better fuel consumption.
The only way to do this was to start with a clean sheet of design, headlined by a more advanced second-generation hybrid system and a total of 530 new patents.
Not only did the new Prius showcase Toyota’s world-leading environmental know-how, it was placed on a pedestal for technical innovation, and remains there today.
Taking a bow were a number of world firsts: Intelligent Park Assist (IPA) – a system designed to assist drivers safely into parking spaces; Steering Assisted Vehicle Stability Control (S-VSC) – an advanced safety system that unified control of the power steering and anti-skid systems; and an electric air-conditioning system that still operated when the engine was switched off at idle.
Inside, there was even more space for a family of five to spread out. The centrally mounted binnacle had grown wider and now a colour multimedia screen took centre stage in the large futuristic dashboard. Models across the range were laden with the kind of specification you’d have difficulty finding on top-of-the-range executive cars; features such as cruise control, premium audio systems, satellite navigation, hands-free calls and a rear-view monitor afforded owners the feeling of motoring nirvana.
It was clear that during the five years the second-generation Prius was on sale that our hybrid technology was here to stay. Worldwide customer satisfaction surveys, such as the JD Power, proved that, along with increasing sales figures, customers around the world were really enjoying life with hybrid.
Incredibly, first-month orders defied all projections and sales reached 180,000 (against a target of 10,000) while waiting lists stretched to seven months.
In 2009, the third iteration of the Prius took to the roads. Incredibly, first-month orders defied all projections and sales reached 180,000 (against a target of 10,000) while waiting lists stretched to seven months. The new car had captured people’s imaginations, and an eco-car incentive launched by governments in the same year hadn’t hurt sales either.
The car’s silhouette had largely remained, the flowing curves of the second generation had gone, to be replaced with a confident new stance full of sharp lines and edgy surfaces – a look to power the world’s best-selling hybrid into a new decade.
Under the skin, it was obvious the Prius’ engineers weren’t resting on their laurels either; every aspect of the car had been honed, refined and improved upon. For better high-speed fuel efficiency and low-speed torque (pulling power and response) the engine size had been increased to 1.8-litres, while 90% of the Hybrid system components were new, saving weight and space.
Just as the original Prius rewrote the rulebook back in 1997, the all-new fourth-generation model elevates the pioneering hybrid back where it belongs: at the forefront of cutting-edge design, efficiency and innovation.
Showcasing our advanced Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) – which revolutionises the way new Toyotas are built and how they look and feel on the road – the new Prius takes the hybrid driving experience to another level thanks to a lower centre of gravity, increased body rigidity and enhanced suspension.
And it doesn’t stop there. Our new Toyota hybrid System takes this sleek dynamic even further with a smoother, more linear power delivery, quicker responses and a sport mode that allows the Prius to intelligently react when a driver’s demands increase.
Find out more >
It’s fair to say that in its relatively brief 18 years on sale, the Prius has done enough to write its name in the history books as one of the defining cars of the last 100 years. At first, not everyone shared our belief that hybrids could make a difference to our future mobility and our planet’s wellbeing, but now most can appreciate that Prius, and the hybrid technology underneath, provides a hugely important stepping stone to a future of zero-emissions motoring.
With each generation’s introduction, the Prius has helped to reduce emissions, increase fuel efficiency, pioneer cutting-edge technology and, importantly, provide an exciting platform for feel-good driving for years to come.
Published: 17 August 2015
Information correct at time of publication.
8 things you didn't know about Hybrid