Following the unveiling of the new Prius PHEV for Europe just yesterday, Toyota has held a presentation of its North American counterpart. The cars look essentially the same both outside and inside, but the new announcement adds important details about things such as AWD.
The fifth iteration of the Prius comes based on the TNGA-C platform and uses a 2.0-liter engine. The electric motor is plugged into a new, recently developed lithium-ion battery pack capable of 15% greater power output. Both the motor and the engine drive the front axle with a combined 197 PS (194 hp / 145 kW), taking the car from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 7.2 seconds.
Opting for the all-wheel-drive variant of the car gets you 199 PS (196 hp / 147 kW) and reduced the OEM-rated sprint time to 7 seconds flat.
Those in the market for a sportier vehicle should consider a new modification called Prius Prime. Armed with the same 2.0-liter engine, it produces 220 PS (217 hp / 162 kW) and needs only 6.6 seconds for its standard launch exercise. An added solar panel on the roof helps it replenish some of the charge, although the company doesn’t go into any specifics here.
The range-topping Prius spec also enjoys a 12.3-inch infotainment system screen, over-the-air updates, a JBL premium audio system with eight speakers, and heated/vented front seats.
