The new Toyota Prius has once again set high standards in the hybrid segment. Innovative technologies, comfort levels and even the design of a true hybrid - now there is a benchmark that other manufacturers can only reach for.

The Prius brand appeared on the market 12 years ago. In 1997, the world's first mass-produced hybrid rolled off the Toyota assembly line.

The name "Prius" in Latin means "to go earlier". It became symbolic for a car that was produced even before there was a human awareness of the need to protect the environment.

In 2003, sales of the second generation Toyota Prius started. These cars are still being produced and are very popular.

When designing the new third-generation Prius, Toyota engineers combined time-tested existing hybrid technologies with innovative developments of recent years. During the development of the Prius, more than 1,000 patents were filed worldwide.

The debut of the serial Toyota Prius of the 2010 model year took place at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2009.

The new hybrid is built using technologies that reduce environmental pollution at every stage of a car's life, from production, operation to vehicle disposal.

The third generation Prius surpassed its record for fuel efficiency. Hidden under the hood of the Prius is a new 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol four that produces 98 horsepower and peak torque of 142 Nm at 5,200 rpm (previously the Prius had a 1.5-litre, developing 76 horsepower). The acceleration time of the new Prius to "hundreds" compared with the previous model was reduced by almost a second - to 9.8 seconds, and the average fuel consumption in the combined cycle decreased by 0.4 liters - to 4.7 liters per hundred kilometers. A significant role in reducing fuel consumption was played by the reduced weight of the hybrid due to the use of heavy-duty aluminum alloys.

Contrary to popular belief, a more powerful gasoline engine is used in a hybrid scheme when driving on the highway, and not during sharp accelerations. With high torque at low speeds, an internal combustion engine can use less fuel and at the same time efficiently maintain a constantly high speed.

The use of an electric coolant pump and a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system also contribute to engine efficiency. The 1.8-litre Prius engine is the first Toyota powerplant to not contain any belts under the hood.

Unlike most other hybrid vehicles in existence, the Prius is an uncompromising "full" hybrid. That is, he can ride on only one engine, only the battery, or a combination of both.

The newly developed electronically controlled regenerative braking system has been optimized to increase the amount of energy generated when braking.

The third generation Prius can offer its owner three alternative modes of transportation. The EV mode allows battery-only driving at low speeds for approximately 1.5 km if conditions permit. There's also Power Mode, which increases the feel of the accelerator pedal for a sportier ride, and Eco Mode, which helps the driver drive with the best possible fuel economy.

Toyota engineers managed to reduce the weight of the power plant and transmission, as well as reduce losses during torque transmission by 20%.

When designing the new Prius, the aerodynamic performance of the model was at the forefront. The designers had a difficult task - to develop a spectacular exterior and at the same time improve a number of important indicators: the volume of internal space and the aerodynamic drag coefficient.

The car has spent a huge amount of time in the wind tunnel, as a result, the new Prius has the best drag coefficient among its closest competitors - 0.25.

Toyota engineers are planning to install a hybrid solar panel on the roof to power the new climate control system. The system prevents the interior temperature from rising while the car is parked and reduces the cooling time accordingly when the driver returns to the car.

The new Prius also offers remote air conditioning. It is the first battery-only system in the world that allows this operation to be performed remotely, so the driver can adjust the internal temperature for comfort before getting into the vehicle.

In addition, the latest exhaust gas recirculation system makes it possible to use the high temperature of the exhaust and thereby reduce the energy costs for warming up the engine and operating the interior heater.

The third generation Toyota Prius is built on a completely new platform. Toyota engineers have done separate work to improve handling and comfort compared to the previous generation. The use of new soundproofing materials has significantly reduced road noise.

When developing the Prius platform, special attention was paid to improving the level of vehicle safety. Initially, more stringent criteria for the effectiveness of passive and active safety systems were laid down.

Already in the basic configuration there are seven airbags, including a knee one, and active head restraints will significantly reduce the risk of injury in a rear impact.

The Prius is equipped with the latest active safety systems: Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRAC) and Vehicle Dynamic Stability Control (VSC).

Toyota used its latest developments on the production version of the hybrid, in particular, a distance control system that uses millimeter-wave radar to avoid collisions with both moving and stationary objects. The same system can, in an emergency, in a fraction of a second, prepare all the equipment responsible for the safety of passengers in the car for a possible collision: tighten the seat belts, bring the seats to an optimal state, increase the sensitivity of the brake pedal and notify the driver with a sound signal.

Parking the Prius is much easier thanks to the Intelligent Parking Assist. The multi-functional monitor, which provides image transmission from the rear view camera while using reverse gear, will show the optimal trajectory of movement when parking.

The wheelbase of the third-generation Toyota Prius remained the same, but due to the improved layout of the front passenger seats, it was possible to increase the legroom for the rear passengers. The hybrid has grown a little in size: 15mm in length and 25mm in width. It also added spaciousness to the cabin.

All trim materials on the new Prius are made from new carbon-neutral plastics. It does not emit harmful substances during operation.

The instrument panel may duplicate information from the multifunction display. As soon as the driver touches the audio system control keys, information about the action taken will appear on the dashboard. On production cars, a dashboard with such capabilities was not previously installed.

Undoubtedly, the new Toyota Prius has once again become a trendsetter in the field of hybrid construction. But the number one automaker in the world has yet to relax, competitors are breathing down the back of the head. The cheaper hybrid Honda Insight seriously stirred up the Japanese market.

Toyota plans to correct the situation by expanding the line of hybrid models. The novelty will be built on the basis of the compact hatchback Toyota Yaris. That is, in the near future we will see a modified Prius power plant on a new platform. The compact hybrid should, as conceived by Toyota marketers, seriously compete with opponents.

A fashionable gadget, a toy for older children, or a practical vehicle. This car can be perceived in different ways, but the fact remains that the Prius is interesting to a very wide audience. However, for many, the new hatchback is prohibitively expensive. Believe me, the car of the previous, third generation is hardly worse.

Let's face it, with the loudly declared fantastic efficiency of the Prius - according to the passport data, the third-generation model consumes 3.9 l / 100 km in the combined cycle - the real fuel consumption is noticeably higher. We operated a Japanese hybrid for a long time in Moscow, where for the same “hundred” run, the car needed from 5.5 to 6 liters of gasoline. On the track, where the gasoline engine not only plows alone almost all the time, but also carries a 45-kilogram high-voltage battery on its shoulders, the flow meter showed 7-7.5 l / 100 km. Twenty years ago, for golf cars with naturally aspirated engines and automatic transmissions, these were almost unattainable numbers, but now, in the era of global engine downsizing and the introduction of start-stop systems, cars with traditional power plants have learned to drive no less economically.

Walk without turning

I did not just mention the twenty-year period of the presence of the Prius on the market. Over the years, the technical concept of the machine has not changed at all. This is a body with a low coefficient of aerodynamic drag and a power unit packed into it, consisting of a high-voltage battery, a gasoline engine, a starter-generator and an electric motor. The game of this quartet is conducted by an inverter and a planetary gearbox, which allows the car to move forward or backward, as well as maintain the engine speed in optimal modes.

At the same time, being faithful to the general idea, each new generation of Prius entered the market with something new. Perhaps the main technical difference between the third generation car (XW30) and its predecessor was the 2ZR-FXE gasoline engine. The tandem of this 1.8-liter (it was 1.5 l) gasoline “four” with an electric motor develops 136 hp. Not enough, you say? This, by the way, is 14 “horses” more than the current fourth Prius. Yes, and not in them, in fact, cymus, but in an impressive torque that provides peppy starts and brisk dynamics in the city. However, looking for a hybrid on the secondary, its reliability is no less important than the developed speed. The question is not idle, especially since you can't buy a five-year-old from us for less than 650,000 rubles. They ask so much for right-hand drive models, left-hand drive cars are on average 150 thousand rubles more expensive. As you can see, the amounts are decent.

32.6 km - according to passport data, this distance is able to drive the Prius III generation on one liter of gasoline

Legends and true

On many forums you can find replicas that the service life of the "Priuses" is significantly superior to conventional cars. Yes and no. You can’t argue with the fact that the parts of the hybrid brake system (pads and discs) are subject to minimal wear, because the starter-generator in the recuperation mode performs a significant job of slowing down the car. The gasoline engine also gets less, since its speed does not go out of the optimal zone, and often the movement occurs only due to electric traction. In general, with normal care, timely oil and filter changes, the internal combustion engine and with a run of 300 thousand km is in full health. But whether this motor will survive another hundred thousand without repair is already a question.

Toyota Prius is a car from a popular brand in the world, featuring a hybrid engine, reliability and an increased level of comfort. Transport is assembled at the largest factories in China and Japan.

The Prius is economical, almost does not pollute the atmosphere (corresponds to the Euro-5 class), reliable and comfortable. In addition, it has no idling, which distinguishes the model from competitors.

Models of Toyota Prius

The release of Toyota Prius started in 1997. The main models include:

1. NHW10 - first generation (Prius-1). This model was only sold in the Japanese car market. Year of release (1997-2000).
2. NHW11 - rebranded first generation (Prius-1.1). The start of sales started in 2000 and continued for the next three years.
3. NHW20 - second generation (Prius-2). In 2003, a new version of the Toyota Prius appeared on the market, which stayed on the assembly line until 2011.
4. ZVW30 - third generation (Prius-3). Released in 2009.
5. ZVW35 - third generation (Prius-3 PHV) The model was put on the conveyor in 2012 and is produced until today.
6. ZVW40 and ZVW41 - third generation (restyling). Release start - 2011. The difference between the two mentioned options is in the number of seats. In the first case, this is a 7-seater, and in the second, a 5-seater station wagon.
7. Toyota Prius 4 generation - debuted in September 2015. There is still little information about this car, so we will tell about it a little later.

Features and Specifications

Toyota Prius is a popular "hybrid" in wide circles. As mentioned above, the release of the car was launched in 1997.

1. First NHW10/11 models.

It had an electric motor with a power of 30 kW and a battery with a capacity of 6 Ah. The gasoline engine boasted a volume of one and a half liters and a power of 58 hp. The car accelerated to “hundreds” in 15.5 seconds.

The principle of operation of the hybrid is as follows:

1. The gasoline engine runs only on battery charge, and the electric motor is responsible for the movement of the vehicle (sequential operation);
2. Any of the motors (gasoline or electric) is responsible for the movement of the car. This type of control is considered optimal.

2. Second model NHW20.

Belong to the second generation. Works on a similar principle. The power part of the car is called Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive. It consists of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 76 hp. and an electric motor with a power of 68 hp.

The total power is 116 "horses".

The main achievement of the new model was the minimum harmfulness. Combined CO2 emissions were only 104 g/km.

The efficiency of the car deserves special attention. The average fuel consumption in the city is 8 liters, and when driving on the highway - 5.5 liters.

The new Hybrid Sinergy Drive has the following operating modes:

• The start of movement is made by an electric motor powered by a battery. After picking up speed, the gasoline engine is connected to work, and the electric motor goes into standby mode;
• In the case of active acceleration, the two types of motor work together to achieve maximum power;
• Uniform movement is characterized by the active operation of the electric motor. In this case, the petrol engine is switched off. If the battery charge level drops below the acceptable level, then the computer starts the motor to make up for the lost capacity.

A feature of the Prius II is the saturation of electronics, such as ABS, VSC and EBD, as well as the presence of an economical electric drive that drives the car's air conditioning.

The body of the car has also changed, which has turned from a classic sedan into a hatchback.

Despite external changes, the transport did not impress buyers. The manufacturer, when creating the second version, was no longer chasing beauty.

The task was to make the trip as comfortable as possible for the driver and passenger.

The salon is spacious and has a unique style. The instrument panel is well thought out. The LCD monitor of the onboard computer is installed in the central part.

A diagonal of 14.5 centimeters is enough to see the information on the screen even with poor eyesight.

The main information that the on-board computer transmits is fuel consumption, power distribution between the battery, wheels and engine, fuel remaining, and more. The information is updated every five minutes.

3. Prius-3 (ZVW30/35).

Appeared in 2009. It was this generation of the car that provided the model with worldwide recognition.

The new car has become longer and wider (by 1.5 and 2.0 centimeters, respectively). As for the length of the wheelbase and the height of the body part, they remained unchanged.

The appearance of the car has also changed. Now the rear and front lights seem to have united with each other, thanks to the seemingly insignificant, but harmoniously looking stripes on the sides of the body.

An important feature for passengers was the shift of the highest point of the body to the central part of the cabin. Now, even with a height of 1.7 meters and above, you can feel comfortable and not be afraid to hit your head. The passenger and driver seats have become thinner by three centimeters, there is room for the knees.

Changed position and gearshift knob. From the dashboard, where it was previously, the handle was moved to the elevation of the center console.

Buyers have the opportunity to choose the diameter of the wheels - between 15 and 17 inches.

In the third version of the Toyota Prius, small protrusions appeared to provide better control of the vehicle's airflow. In comparison with the second version, the air resistance coefficient has decreased by 0.01 (from 0.25 to 0.24).

The power part of the car also experienced serious changes. Instead of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, a 1.8-liter engine with a capacity of 99 horsepower took over the reins.

The decision to increase the volume of the engine was caused by the desire of developers to reduce fuel consumption when driving at high speeds.

The total power during the operation of the electric and gasoline engine is 136 horsepower. The car accelerates to “hundreds” in 10.4 seconds.

A planetary gearbox appeared in the electric motor, supplemented by a heat recovery system, as well as an oil pump.

Additional modes of operation have also been added. So, instead of one "EV Mode", when the car was driven only by electric traction, two more options appeared:

• "Power Mode" - a mode designed for traveling at high speeds;
• "ECO Mode" is an economical option designed for reduced consumption of the fuel mixture.

In normal mode, fuel consumption averages 4 liters per hundred. When switching to the eco-variant, it is reduced to 1.75 liters.

4. Restyled Prius-3 (ZVW40 and ZVW41).

In 2011, the world saw a new restyled version of the already beloved third Prius.

The designers did not make changes to the power unit, focusing on the appearance and interior of the car.

So, LED sections appeared in the head optics, the air intake hole increased, the interior trim changed (the quality of the material used improved).

A number of devices have changed location on the dashboard. The Japanese paid more attention to soundproofing.

The suspension, which has become stiffer, has also undergone structural changes.

The power unit remained unchanged - the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor for 82 "horses".

Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 3.9 liters per "hundred". In addition, the new model "learned" to ride only on electric traction.

Reviews from Toyota Prius owners

The best indicator of the quality, reliability and recognition of a car is the reviews of real owners. To make things fair, below are both positive and negative reviews.

Positive reviews.

1. Viktor Semenov, 46 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2008, mileage - 110 thousand kilometers.

“I have been the proud owner of a Toyota Prius for eight years now. During the operation, the car was not seriously repaired.

The main job was to change the oil and filter elements. A year earlier, we bought a Toyota Prius and my son, so he managed to run over 200 thousand kilometers all the time.

All that was done on the car — oil change, candles and filters. There are no complaints about either of the two cars.

After several kilometers behind the wheel of a car, you don’t even want to consider other options.

The machine is economical, pulls well at any speed, reliable in operation.

Of the additional options, it is worth noting the rear-view camera, which has repeatedly saved from collisions.

2. Yuri Skorikov, 47 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2009, mileage - 115 thousand kilometers.

“I bought the car in 2012. During the time that I have a car, I managed to hit 60 thousand kilometers. No complaints about transport.

During the operation had to make a running diagnostics and change the oil. If there were problems, they were fixed personally.

Once almost burned the inverter. When replacing the battery, my son managed to mix up the polarity, after which an error popped up on the dashboard.

The service said that the car is worthy of respect, because the inverter survived and did not burn out.

I think that the main advantages of the car are reliability, high quality of the engine and running gear, as well as economy.”

3. Evgeny Petrenko, 49 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.8 l, automatic transmission, 2010 onwards, mileage - 90 thousand kilometers.

“The experience of owning different cars is minimal. Before the Toyota Prius, there were only two cars - Hondas of 2004 and 2006 of release.

When choosing a car, I paid attention to the following criteria - efficiency, reliability and maintenance costs.

Friends advised me to buy a Toyota Prius, and as it turned out, not in vain. The car turned out to be easy to drive, economical, stable on the road. The design deserves special attention, which caused not fake envy among others.

I bought the car already from hand, so many alterations have already been completed.

So, the ground clearance turned out to be raised to 20 cm, excellent acoustics with ten speakers were installed, high-quality ones were made on the doors. In general, not a car, but a music center on wheels.

There are no complaints during the operation. The car is economical, unpretentious in operation, there is a roomy trunk.”

4. Gennady Rastorguev, 38 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2007, mileage - 160 thousand kilometers.

“I bought the car in 2012. The year of manufacture of the purchased Toyota Prius is 2007. The car is made in the USA, which only adds “whists”.

During the operation, I had to change oils, working fluids and make diagnostics of the main systems (more for complacency).

Drove all the time 95 thousand kilometers. The car showed its best side, was unpretentious and did not break down on the road. First of all, this is due to the timely replacement of technical fluids, which I wish you too. Do not forget about the filters (they also need to be changed on time).

After 30 thousand kilometers, I had to change the candles (the engine started).

Real fuel consumption struck to the core. At a speed of 80-90 kilometers per hour, the car showed a result of 2.8 liters per "hundred". Starting the engine in cold weather does not cause problems.

Of the main advantages, it is worth noting reliability, comfort, self-confidence on the road and ease of maintenance.

If you understand the mechanics and electrical parts, then there will be no problems with the car at all.

negative feedback.

1. Gennady Ivanov, 35 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.8 l, automatic transmission, 2010 release, mileage - 130 thousand kilometers.

“Previously, I gave preference only to foreign cars, but I wanted to change the car to some kind of “hybrid” in order to save on fuel. Bought a Toyota Prius in 2010.

At first, there were no complaints about the car, and after each MOT, an engine error began to light up. The masters at the service station explained that the reason was the filling of low-quality fuel, although he tried to pour only expensive fuel.

After a year of operation, fuel consumption jumped - 5.0 to 6.0 liters per "hundred". A year later, the car began to “eat” and did 7.5-8.0 liters.

Recently, the battery failed, and an inscription appeared on the dashboard demanding to check the hybrid system.

When buying, they assured that the power source is eternal, but in practice everything turned out to be not so rosy. The service itself is disgusting - they repair for a long time, you wait for parts for months, and the quality leaves much to be desired.

2. Rodin Osadchy, 33 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 1998 release, mileage - 330 thousand kilometers.

“The car was reliable and unpretentious for the first three years of operation, but after replacing the battery, constant problems began.

First, the elements of the power source flew out one by one, then there were problems with the inverter, then with the hybrid installation. In the end, I had to disassemble and sell everything for parts.

3. Diana Ivanova, 26 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2008 onwards, mileage - 60 thousand kilometers.

“When buying a car, I thought that I would get high-quality transport that would provide comfortable warmth in winter. It turned out that it is warmer in Zhiguli than in Toyota.

Causes criticism and handling of the car. On a bad road, the car strives to be demolished to the side of the road. I had to sell the car after 2 years of operation.

4. Nikolai Lunev, 36 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.8 l, automatic transmission, 2011 onwards, mileage - 40 thousand kilometers.

“In principle, the car is not bad, but the low ground clearance upset me. When traveling to the country, I constantly strike the bottom even when driving the wheel into relatively small pits.

5. Stanislav Gaidashenko, 38 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2009 onwards, mileage - 40 thousand kilometers.

“The main disadvantage for me was the price. I wanted to buy a hybrid, so I had to get into serious debt. It turned out that the car is not so good.

Noise isolation is not enough, the steering wheel is not informative, there is no fixation of the lever.

If accidentally hurt, you can turn on the neutral gear. The interior is made of cheap plastic, which began to creak almost immediately after the start of operation.

At normal speed (more than “hundreds”), fuel consumption is not so small - almost 7 liters per hundred kilometers.

The battery discharge is fast. To save fuel normally, you should stick to a speed of 70 km / h.

Results

Toyota Prius is a reliable, comfortable and economical vehicle. The main thing during operation is to change consumables in time, monitor the condition of the battery and periodically go to diagnostics in order to fix problems at an early stage.

If you do not start malfunctions, then there will be no serious problems in operation. An important point is the quality of the fuel.

Toyota Prius is whimsical to fuel, so it is worth refueling at proven gas stations.

told

3.9 liters

hybrid Lexus

Toyota Camry.

At the end of October, two interesting new items appeared at Toyota dealerships at once. We have already talked about one of them, we will not ignore the other. We are talking about a Toyota Prius hybrid car, which has not been officially delivered to Russia before.

The current Prius is the third generation of perhaps the most famous hybrid model in the world. Created in 1997 by the efforts of Japanese engineers, this car, over the 12 years of its existence, has allowed Toyota to occupy the previously vacant niche of environmentally friendly cars, marking the vector of development for the entire automotive industry in the coming years. Over the years of its existence, the Prius of the first and second generations have sold over a million copies around the world.



I must say that once, in the years of its infancy, the Prius was a full-fledged sedan, and the plump "sirloin" part did not give it away. Everything changed with the advent of the second generation, which saw the light in 2004, already in hatchback status. The current car body is essentially a deep restyling of the previous one, just more advanced in terms of aerodynamics and more beautiful. But the platform is now different - it was borrowed from the current Toyota Corolla, which is a shame, because before the Prius was built on its own. But what was unchanged in all three generations was the presence of a gasoline-electric power plant and a digital dashboard located in the center - a sort of symbol of a futuristic flagship leading the entire Japanese corporation to a brighter future!



Inside the Prius is really a real spaceship! The salon is trimmed only with ecological plastic, the console wraps around the perimeter, the dual-zone dashboard is replete with incomprehensible symbols. There is even a projector that displays information on the windshield. However, if you look closely, you can see that there is a lot in common with the same Corolla - both in terms of content and the dubious quality of materials.

But not the interior, and not the design as a whole - the pride of the Prius. Pride is the most advanced hybrid drive in the world. At least, that's what the developers of the Hybrid Synergy Drive power plant say, which runs on nickel-metal hydride batteries located at the rear of the hatchback. It consists of two engines - a 98-horsepower 1.8-liter gasoline engine and an 80-horsepower electric motor. True, their indicators do not add up when receiving the total power, and in total we have only 134 hp. But passport fuel consumption is impressive - only 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers. This is much better than the old Prius, which required all 5.1 liters.



The optimization of aerodynamics (the Cx coefficient is 0.25 - a real record!) and the refinement of the continuously variable ECVT (Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission) hybrid transmission with a planetary gear made it possible to reduce consumption. The principle is the same as that of Lexus hybrids, but the efficiency is even greater. For developers, it is very important that the most advanced hybrid in the world bear the Toyota name.

However, is a hybrid drive really that economical?

If you compare this car, say, with a two-liter diesel BMW 1 series, then the comparison will not be in favor of a hybrid. Yes, BMW consumes 4.8 liters in the combined cycle, but it rides like a sports car, accelerating to hundreds in 7.5 seconds (Prius accelerates in 10.4 seconds). Diesel Golf 1.6 comparable to the Prius in terms of dynamics, which, alas, is not represented in Russia, will consume only 4.5 liters with a DSG box.



By the way, in one of the issues of the TopGear program, an interesting test for efficiency was shown, the participants of which were ... Toyota Prius and BMW M3 V8. Cars drove around the ring at a calm pace - the Prius first, the BMW behind him. Imagine everyone's surprise when the average consumption of the M3 turned out to be even lower than that of the Prius ...

The popularity of the Prius in the United States is understandable - the prices for heavy fuel there are rather big. But in our country it is possible to achieve this kind of fuel savings for significantly less money, and taking into account the ratio of prices for gasoline and heavy fuel, driving diesels is even cheaper ...

You can excuse yourself by saying that buying such a car is rather a matter of prestige. You will not only save on gasoline, but sign the desire to save the environment from CO2 emissions and make the city in which we live more environmentally friendly and clean. However, it would be strange to forget that rechargeable batteries are by no means environmentally friendly in production. The same TopGear test allows you to look at this problem much more broadly. For example, as the story says, in order to produce the same batteries for the Prius or deliver these cars to the consumer in the States or Europe on huge ships, such environmental damage is caused that the minimum emissions of the car itself cannot compensate for it ...



In addition, a lot of purely Russian questions arise about hybrids: how are such machines operated in our conditions, especially in winter? What is the shelf life of the batteries? Does their capacity decrease over time? How do they perform in comparison with a diesel ... Until the answers to all these questions are found, no one will be in a hurry to switch to a hybrid ...

Finally, the price of the new model also raises doubts.

Whatever the car may be technically, it still remains just a golf-class hatchback. But the price of the Prius (1,177,000 rubles) lives an independent life, being higher than that of the most popular business class sedan Toyota Camry.

In the US, Toyota Prius costs $22,000, Russian customs duty adds another 50% to this figure. Another thing is that one could offer the possibility of choosing different levels of equipment of the machine. Then the price would fall to approximately 850,000-900,000 rubles. And these are quite real numbers.

Perhaps this considerable figure indicates that Toyota is withdrawing the Prius not to increase sales, but for prestige and strategic purposes. By the way, the only equipment is called “Prestige”, and you can’t call it poor by any means: seven airbags, a stabilization system, a multimedia complex with Russified navigation, keyless access to the cabin and starting the engine with a button, an intelligent parking assistance system, touch on-board computer control system on the steering wheel (Touch Tracer), LED headlights and lights. Isn't that premium?



The fact that Toyota is not going to massively sell Prius in Russia is evidenced by another point. According to unofficial data, only 100 cars were allocated for the whole of Russia to begin with - the plant barely manages to cope with demand in America and Japan itself. The car is exhibited at dealerships for informational purposes only and is available only by order, so there are no test cars.

Perhaps Toyota wants to prepare the market for the mass sale of hybrids in 3-5 years, to form a public opinion that hybrids are bought not at all to save fuel, and most importantly, to create a technical infrastructure for their maintenance. But the final word on the future of hybrids has not yet been said, among which the Prius, of course, remains the first number. So hurry, and really, nowhere.

Answer

Can a car whose length is almost 4.5 meters to spend 2.82 liters of gasoline per 100 km in the urban cycle? It turns out that there is such an “instance” - this is the Hybrid Toyota Prius II. The second-generation hybrid Toyota, which had barely appeared, was awarded four prestigious awards at once.

The performance that Hybrid Synergy Drive delivers, referred to as a squared hybrid, is simply amazing.

The main technical indicators of the hybrid Toyota Prius II

The dimensions of the car are 4450 mmx1725 mmx1490 mm, which corresponds to the length, width and height. The size of the wheelbase and stakes front / rear - 2700 mm and 1505/1480 mm. The minimum trunk volume in a hybrid Toyota is 408 liters, and the ground clearance is 145 mm. Maximum speed - 179 km / h, acceleration to "weave" - ​​10.9 s. Fuel consumption in the city and on the highway (per 100 km) - five and 4.2 liters. The volume of the gas tank is 45 liters, the tire size is 185/65/R15.

Types of hybrid drives

Speaking of hybrids, which, by the way, are also produced by Honda, and dozens of enterprises are developing, it is worth remembering two types of hybrid drive - parallel and serial.

In the first case, with the help of a gearbox, the internal combustion engine is connected to the wheels, to which an electric motor is also connected (it does not matter to the same as the ICE or others), powered by a battery.

In the latter case, the internal combustion engine is not connected to the wheels. It runs on a battery-charging generator. The current is supplied to the traction electric motors either directly from the generator and additionally from batteries, or from batteries (depending on the driving mode).

Twisting flows tracked on the central display Toyota Hybrid

In both cases, electric motors can work as generators during braking, thus it is possible to recover energy and gain economic benefits.

The same hybrid Toyota uses both combinations, which allow achieving both economy and high acceleration dynamics, which gives the right to call it a hybrid of hybrids.

The volume of the gasoline four-cylinder engine is 1.5 liters, and power - 75 hp. The power of a hybrid Toyota can hardly be called a record for such a volume, and for compression (13: 1). But the engine itself (without an electric motor) is economical in itself. And, most importantly, it meets the most stringent toxicity requirements, which have not yet been introduced in America, i.e. Toyota's hybrid emissions are "ultra super low" and the standard is "partially zero".

Now about the electric motor on permanent magnets: its power 67 HP, synchronous.

The scheme of stuffing hybrid Toyota

Toyota hybrid batteries are nickel-metal hydride batteries with an attention-grabbing characteristic - peak power is 28 “horses” (against the usual 1-2 hp). In all driving modes, of course, the system of redistribution between these load elements works. A trip in a hybrid Toyota is possible only on an internal combustion engine, only on an electric motor, or on their simultaneous use. At the same time, part of the power of the gasoline engine with uniform movement still gets to the generator, control system, and then to the electric traction motor. At first glance, these transformations entail additional losses, in fact, engineers, in this way, achieve the optimal mode for the DSV (speed / load), which has a positive effect on fuel consumption.

"Hybrid-hybrid" system: link diagram

By the way: The huge torque of the hybrid Toyota, which the electric motor is capable of delivering at any speed, is the key to flexible and convenient control of the huge traction on the front wheels. From the wheels (during braking) and the gasoline engine, the battery is simultaneously charged (the voltage in this traction "smart" electrical network reaches 500 V). For such high powers, it implies relatively low currents, therefore, low losses due to ohmic heating of the wires in comparison with systems used earlier (for the same Prius I, it is only 274 V).

The power divider is another highlight of the hybrid Toyota: a planetary transmission, a central or sun wheel connected to a generator, a planetary one with a DSV, an outer ring with wheels and an electric motor. In a variety of directions, the Toyota Hybrid system redistributes power flows very smoothly.

Hybrid drives: serial and parallel hybrid

Electronics

There are a lot of electronics in this car: the electric drive of the air conditioner, which allows you to reduce the energy consumption that is saved in this car; the second generation VSC, which controls the electric power steering, as well as EBD ABS, etc. The grown-up Toyota Prius II, which has moved into the “D” segment, is quite voluminous - it is practically a hatchback that has the features of a mini-van.

Interior

Externally, the Hybrid Toyota does not make much impression, since it is intended for those. Who appreciates, first of all, comfort.

And the cabin is really comfortable: very comfortable seats that meet high ergonomic requirements. The salon itself is very bright, spacious, with a nice dashboard with an on-board computer LCD monitor. The screen diagonal is 14.5 cm. It contains information about the road surface and the condition of the car, about the distribution of power flows (“Energy”), the remaining fuel and the number of kilometers that can be driven on it (“Consumption”), the distance traveled. It also serves as a map of the navigation system. Thanks to the second generation Prius, the car gained worldwide fame.

But, even such a high assessment did not make the company's specialists stop. Almost twelve years after the debut of an amazing car, the third generation Toyota Prius Hybrid was presented, in which they tried to preserve the originality of the predecessor's image to the maximum, introducing new features into it.

Third generation Prius: differences from Toyota Prius II

The new car has grown in length by 15 mm, has become wider by 20 mm. The dimensions of the wheelbase and the height of the car have not changed. It was decided not to deviate far from the "triangular" silhouette of the eco car. As if a light touch connected the headlights with the rear ones, adding some piquancy to the outlines. Unlike the previous hybrid Toyota, now the highest point of the roof, previously located above the heads of the front passenger and driver, has now been shifted to the center of the cabin. This for the passengers of the second row turned into additional comfort. Now tall passengers may not be afraid of hitting their heads. There is also more legroom due to the fact that the thickness of the backrests of the front seats has been reduced by 30 mm.

For the driver, there are also innovations: the gear knob, which was previously located on the dashboard, was moved to a console raised above the floor. The wheels of a hybrid Toyota, depending on the configuration, can be 17 or fifteen inches.

In the restyled car of the third generation, the designers, in order to somewhat refresh the appearance of the car, the designers changed the head optics, updated the interior trim materials, changed the location of individual elements, worked on sound insulation, modernized the chassis, making the suspension stiffer, added engine volume (up to 1.8 liters ), whose power is 99 hp, and the electric motor - 82. When driving on electric traction at a speed of 50 km / h, the power reserve is up to those kilometers.

Small protrusions appeared in the front bumper of the hybrid Toyota, which are not so much a design element as a functional nuance that improves airflow management. The new model has a 0.01 lower drag coefficient (Cx=0.25).

Toyota's hybrid body name change to ZVW30 from NHW20 reflects the fact that the old engine has been replaced by a new 1.8-liter N-series engine, which can reduce fuel consumption at high speeds. The electric motor was equipped with a planetary gearbox. The system was supplemented with an oil electronic pump, an innovative exhaust gas heat recovery system.

In addition to the electric driving mode "EV Mode", there are now two more - economical ("ECO Mode") and for dynamic driving - "Power Mode".

If, when driving in a normal style in a hybrid Toyota with ups and downs and stops per 100 km, 4 liters of fuel are consumed, then in the "eco" mode, the figure can be reduced to 1.75 liters.