The unique inexperienced automobile is BACK! Toyota confirms new Prius arrival
- Toyota had initially stated in 2022 that the brand new Prius will not be offered within the UK
- Bosses stated British clients solely wished SUV fashions, making Prius redundant
- After U-turning on the choice, the Japanese model confirms its arrival for 2024
The Toyota Prius, the unique eco automobile to interrupt into the mainstream, is formally again within the UK.
Having stated the fifth-generation Prius wouldn’t be offered in Britain as a consequence of an absence of demand for saloon automobiles, bosses on the Japanese firm U-turned on that call – and have now confirmed it arrival date and value.
Order books for the plug-in hybrid mannequin open on 4 March, and first automobiles are scheduled to be delivered to UK clients from July.
But ranging from just below £40,000, the brand new model of the world’s main inexperienced automobile prices the identical as many similar-size electrical automobiles (EVs).
Toyota Prius is again! The fifth-generation of the unique poster automobile for inexperienced motoring is coming to the UK this summer season… however the plug-in hybrid mannequin can be pricier than a number of EVs
At launch, two variations of the Prius can be accessible.
Both the entry Design and higher-trim Excel are powered by a 2.0-litre plug-in system.
The powertrain delivers a most 220bhp – a ‘important enhance’ on the 121bhp of the earlier Prius plug-in mannequin.
The 13.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack can present sufficient electric-only driving vary to cowl as much as 53.4 miles. Toyota says that is appropriate for ‘most each day journeys’.
In reality, the most recent measured knowledge reveals that the common each day mileage coated by motorists in Britain is 20 miles. Theoretically, the Prius may very well be used for nearly two and a half days with out partaking the petrol engine.
On longer journeys, with the electrical and combustion powertrain working in tandem, the Japanese agency says the mixed CO2 emission are simply 12g/km – the bottom ever for any Prius mannequin.
At launch, two variations of the Prius can be accessible. Both are powered by a 2.0-litre plug-in system
The powertrain delivers a most 220bhp – a large enhance on the 121bhp of the earlier Prius plug-in mannequin
The 13.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack can present sufficient electric-only driving vary to cowl as much as 53.4 miles. Toyota says that is appropriate for ‘most each day journeys’
Power is shipped to all 4 wheels, and this ends in comparatively spectacular efficiency figures, with quoted acceleration from zero to 62mph taking simply 6.7 seconds. That makes this formally the quickest Prius but.
The fifth-generation plug-in hybrid will not be low-cost, although.
The entry-spec Design model prices £37,315.
That’s greater than the entry Hyundai Kona Electric (£34,995) and solely fractionally lower than the most cost effective Kia Niro EV (£37,325) – two of the preferred fully-electric fashions on sale in Britain right this moment.
It’s additionally far costlier than the Citroen e-C4 (£32,195), Nissan Leaf (£28,495), and MG4 EV (£26,995), all of that are family-size EV fashions.
The fundamental Prius Design comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, sensible (keyless) entry, rear privateness glass, Toyota’s newest Smart Connect+ multimedia system with each cloud-based and embedded navigation, a digital driver’s instrument cluster, parking sensors and dual-zone air-con. It additionally has a set of newest era Toyota Safety Sense lively security and driver help programs as commonplace.
Power is shipped to all 4 wheels, and this ends in comparatively spectacular efficiency figures, with quoted acceleration from zero to 62mph taking simply 6.7 seconds. That makes this formally the quickest Prius but
The Prius cabin has been introduced updated with a floating seven-inch TFT digital driver’s instrument cluster and a large panorama infotainment display screen in the course of the dashboard
When revealing the fifth-generation Prius in 2022, Toyota stated it might not be offered to British clients as a consequence of an absence of demand for non-SUV fashions. However, bosses swiftly did a U-turn on that call
Upgrading to Excel pushes the worth as much as £39,995 and provides 19-inch wheels, eight-way energy adjustable entrance seats which can be heated for winter driving and ventilated to offer a cool blast of air in the summertime.
A digital rear-view mirror and energy again door are additionally included within the specification.
The unique poster automobile for greener motoring, the Prius had been on sale within the UK since 2000 and have become the car of selection for eco-conscious A-list celebrities and movie stars – even Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio had one.
In current years it has turn out to be the go-to automobile of selection for taxi and personal rent firm drivers, particularly Ubers in huge cities, as a consequence of its low working prices and rock-solid reliability.
Toyota eliminated the previous-generation Prius from sale in Britain in early 2022.
The fifth-generation plug-in hybrid will not be low-cost, ranging from £37,315. That’s greater than the entry Hyundai Kona Electric (£34,995) and solely fractionally lower than the most cost effective Kia Niro EV
The Prius identify will return to UK roads this summer season, having disappeared from showroom two years in the past
When revealing the fifth-generation automobile in November 2022, Toyota stated the brand new model wouldn’t be made accessible to British clients as a consequence of an absence of demand for non-SUV fashions.
The UK arm of the producer stated this was as a result of demand for its long-running saloon mannequin had evaporated with extra patrons wanting SUV-type hybrids, with its CH-R outselling the Prius final yr by 32 to at least one the yr earlier.
But Toyota’s stance modified when bosses seen the current surge in hybrid gross sales within the UK as many drivers are nonetheless unwilling to make the leap to a full EV.
The firm additionally has the Corolla hybrid hatchback accessible to British clients – a mannequin that is produced at its Burnaston manufacturing unit in South Derbyshire.
How Prius grew to become an eco assertion for A-list celebs
Tom Hanks pictured stepping into his Toyota Prius in 2007 outdoors his manufacturing workplace in Santa Monica, California
Cameron Diaz is without doubt one of the Prius’ most well-known homeowners. Here she’s seen stepping into her hybrid mannequin in California in 2007
Since launching globally in 1997, Toyota has offered round 5.05 million examples of the Prius worldwide.
The Japanese agency says this equates to a CO2 saving of greater than 82 million tonnes.
But its arrival some 27 years in the past additionally noticed the Prius turn out to be the automobile for eco-enthusiasts to be seen in.
It was the primary mass-produced, reasonably priced, family-friendly hybrid to be offered on these shores, and demand was boosted by the swathe of celebs pictured driving their super-green Prius across the Hollywood hills.
Stars of the massive display screen who owned a Prius across the flip of the century embody Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Claudia Schiffer, Demi Moore, Ewan McGregor and Julia Roberts – simply to call just a few.
Rather than flashy Ferraris or big Bentleys, the Prius was the car to be photographed in for those who have been an A-lister who wished to clarify that they’re environmentally aware.
Scottish actor Ewan McGregor pictured in 2004 – once more in California – pumping petrol into his Prius hybrid. The Trainspotting star has taken half in loads of environmental charity work
Claudia Schiffer together with her Toyota Prius hybrid in London in 2008. The mannequin stated years in the past that seeing Al Gore’s movie on local weather change, An Inconvenient Truth, had made her desperate to throw her help behind local weather change campaigns – and can be why she purchased a Prius
Actor Lucy Liu pictured in West Hollywood in 2006 together with her Prius hybrid, which on the time was the eco-car to be seen in for those who have been an A-list celeb
Renee Zellweger is pictured right here in 2010 having been ‘caught in a bit of fender bender with one other girl who bumps into the actress’ driver-side door on her Toyota Prius’. Renee stays cheerful as they change info and take pictures till then-boyfriend Bradley Cooper arrived to choose her up
Sarah Michelle Gellar is pictured right here in 2009 pumping petrol into her Prius hybrid
Former Manchester United footballer and now commentator Gary Neville pictured in 2011 arriving on the Carrington coaching floor. As you possibly can see, his gray Toyota Prius hybrid had been concerned in a minor shunt with harm to the entrance bumper
Jeff Goldblum is pictured along with his Prius in 2017 throughout a purchasing journey in New York
Another star of the massive display screen to personal a Prius is Kirsten Dunst, pictured stepping into the hybrid Toyota in California in 2006
Toyota Prius within the UK: A short historical past lesson
FIRST GENERATION: 2000
The first-generation Prius arrived within the UK in 2000. It had been launched in Japan three years earlier, and the British market wasn’t fairly prepared for what it needed to provide…
When the first-generation automobile arrived on the flip of the century, Toyota offered it with a five-year guarantee in a bid to diffuse issues concerning the lifespan of the battery
Toyota’s advertising division went into overdrive in 2003, closely promoting the Prius as being exempt from London’s Congestion Charge, which was launched the identical yr
When the first-generation automobile arrived in 2000, Toyota offered it with a five-year guarantee in a bid to diffuse issues concerning the lifespan of the battery.
Yet it did not show widespread within the UK, regardless of an enormous push within the capital the place the Prius was closely marketed as being exempt from London’s Congestion Charge, which was as a consequence of be launched in 2003.
SECOND GENERATION: 2004
Toyota Prius gross sales solely began to actually take off when the second-generation Prius arrived in January 2004
The second-iteration of the Prius gained the European Car of the Year title in 2005, changing into solely the second Japanese mannequin to elevate the award (after the Toyota Yaris in 2000) that dates again to 1964
Prius gross sales solely began to actually take off when the second-generation Prius arrived in January 2004.
It even gained the European Car of the Year title in 2005, changing into solely the second Japanese mannequin to elevate the award (after the Toyota Yaris in 2000) that dates again to 1964.
THIRD GENERATION: 2009
The Mk3 Prius arrived within the UK in 2009 and proved comparatively widespread. This was additionally the primary Prius accessible as both a standard ‘self-charging’ hybrid or a PHEV
It was changed with the third-gen Prius in August 2009, which remains to be a preferred sight on UK roads right this moment.
The Mk3 Prius was additionally the primary to be accessible as a standard ‘self-charging’ hybrid or a PHEV, that means clients may plug it into the mains the cost the battery and profit from an extended electric-only driving vary.
Toyota additionally launched the Prius+ MPV across the similar time, although the dwindling demand for this car sort means it by no means took off, with the market as a substitute shifting in the direction of SUVs.
FOURTH GENERATION: 2016
The fourth-generation mannequin succeeded it in March 2016, however the arrival of fully-electric automobiles and longer-range hybrids noticed its recognition shrink dramatically in recent times
The fourth-generation mannequin succeeded it in March 2016, however the arrival of fully-electric automobiles and longer-range hybrids noticed its recognition shrink dramatically in recent times.
However, a variation of the hybrid system pioneered within the unique 2000 Prius stays the ability supply in all core Toyota fashions on sale within the UK to this point.
