Detroit Auto Show: Toyota's Third-Generation Prius Hybrid Makes World Debut

Detroit Auto Show: Toyota's Third-Generation Prius Hybrid Makes World Debut

Toyota made good on its promise to place the third-generation Prius on the world stage today, rolling out at the Detroit Auto Show a model that is more fuel efficient and more powerful, roomier and cleaner aerodynamically, than its predecessors.

Plus, the No. 1 Japanese automaker by sales divulged a lot of facts about Prius Gen 3. The only large piece that's missing from the 2010 Prius puzzle is pricing, which won't be announced until shortly before the new Prius goes on sale late spring.

Toyota claims the 2010 Prius achieves 50 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not yet rated it. The first-generation Prius is EPA rated at 41 mpg combined and the second generation Prius is EPA rated at 46 mpg combined.

A larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine powers the new Prius. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the larger engine actually helps improve highway mileage. By making more torque, the new engine can run at lower average revolutions per minute on the highway. When operating at lower RPM, the new engine uses less fuel.

Toyota says the use of an electric water pump and a new exhaust gas recirculation system also contribute to the engine's efficiency. And the 1.8-liter engine is the first Toyota power plant that requires no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance.

Also new is a multi-information display panel that monitors fuel and energy consumption. It provides feedback on the Prius's efficiency using three different displays to help the driver acquire economical driving habits.

The new Prius received more wind tunnel hours of testing than any other Toyota in history, resulting in the cleanest aerodynamic profile of any mass-produced vehicle. By focusing on the shape of the body, underfloor, wheelhouse liner and wheels, designers were able to reduce the coefficient of drag value to 0.25, compared to 0.26 for the previous model.

An optional sliding glass moonroof packaged with solar panels is available. It powers a new ventilation system that keeps the interior air temperature from rising while the vehicle is parked, making the cool-down time shorter when the driver returns to the vehicle. That in turn reduces the use of the mileage-gobbling air conditioning.

LED lamps are used for low beams and also in the tail and stop lamps to curb power consumption. The air conditioning, a major energy drain, has been re-engineered to increase efficiency and cool-down performance. In addition, an exhaust-heat recirculation system reduces heat waste by warming engine coolant during cold startup for improved performance.

The new Prius is built on a new platform, which Toyota says enables improved handling stability, quieter operation and collision safety. The suspension consists of front struts and a rear intermediate beam design, as before, but handling stability is advanced by improving the stabilizer layout, higher caster angle and tuning the bushing characteristics.

Also, disc brakes are now used on all four corners, replacing the front disc/rear drum brakes in the current model.

Weight was saved by using aluminum in the hood, rear hatch, front suspension axle and brake caliper, and by using super-high-tensile steel in the rocker inner, center pillar and roof reinforcement. Toyota claims zero-to-60 acceleration has been improved to 9.8 seconds, more than a second faster than the current Prius.

Better-performing sound insulation, in conjunction with improved vibration damping, has been installed in various locations to reduce road noise.

If the 2010 Prius is everything Toyota claims it is, it is a major improvement upon the current- and first-generation Prii. How nice.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.