While the most obvious advantage to the Prius was reduced fuel use and CO2 emissionsGA2, drivers would also discover that electric motors provided impressive acceleration. In 2013 a racing Prius competed in the GT300 racing series, and Hybrid engines are key to our recent successes in the world famous Le Mans 24 hour race.
As well as pioneering a new powertrain, the Toyota Prius brought about new ideas in design. Focused on aerodynamics, passenger comfort and design language that spoke to the futuristic nature of the vehicle, the Prius has always been instantly recognisable.
Forward thinking technology has always been at the heart of the Prius. Rather than relying on its external charger, Prius was capable of self-charging while it drove. Toyota Hybrid development has seen vast improvements in battery technology over the years, becoming smaller, lighter and more powerful.
Hybrid electric vehicles have become common on the road, but the Prius was one of the the first mass produced Hybrid vehicles the world had seen. With each new generation we pushed the technology to be better and more accessible for an incredible amount of drivers.
The Toyota Prius was first launched in Australia in 2001. This first model 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain produced 53kW and 115Nm, teamed to a 33kW electric motor. Today a RAV4 2.5L AWD Hybrid delivers 163kW and has a 1,500kg braked towing capacity.
Corolla ZR Hatch Shown
The Corolla Hybrid hatch has a petrol engine and electric motor that work in perfect harmony to create 90kW of fun driving.
Camry SL Shown
The Camry Hybrid seamlessly integrates a battery-powered electric motor with the power of a petrol engine to deliver 160kW.
