Introducing the Toyota Hybrid Family
Funny thing, starting something new. It can be daunting at first, but it only takes a few followers to make you realise you're doing something right. It's the same with us and hybrid technology.
First came the Prius, arriving on the streets of Tokyo in 1997. Then came the Auris Hybrid, pushing our fuel efficiency ambitions even further. And next year the story continues, with the launch of the 7 seat Prius+ and the Yaris Hybrid Concept. Leading by example, you might say.
Yaris Hybrid
The latest addition to the Yaris family combines the stylish form and agile handling that makes the original Yaris a great drive, with the superb efficiency and refined driving experience of a fully automatic hybrid.
Delivering up to 81mpg (T3 & T4 consumption combined) and C02 emissions of just 79g/km, it qualifies for free road tax and is exempt from the London Congestion Charge too. Thanks to its Hybrid engine, you get the best of both worlds. For company car drivers, it sits in the lowest Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax band of 10%, and was ranked best in its class for running costs over three years by KWIKcarcost.
The Yaris Hybrid features a smaller, lighter version of our Hybrid Synergy Drive system. A new 1.5 litre automatic petrol engine, compact electric motor and battery pack deliver a seamlessly smooth drive. Three on-demand push button activated driving modes help you control efficiency even further. EV mode uses power from the electric motor only for zero exhaust emissions and zero fuel consumption – perfect for the congested city.
Cool blue accents and rear privacy glass give the Yaris Hybrid a stylish edge, but not at cost to comfort. Leather and fabric seats and leather steering wheel with blue accent stitching make it feel every bit as good as it looks.
Dual climate air conditioning with individual zone temperature controls, rain sensing wipers and headlights that stay on for 15 seconds after locking so you can see your way to your front door - are just some of the small ways the Yaris Hybrid makes a big difference.
It's big on safety as well as efficiency, with 7 airbags, plus ABS, Brake Assist and Vehicle Stability Control to help keep you on the road and in control in all conditions. It has Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) - a regenerative system recovers energy during braking, to provide electricity to power the car for efficient performance.
Auris Hybrid
The all new Auris Hybrid is a clear expression of our belief that there is always a better way. It’s a better car all round. A dynamic, sporty and sleek exterior creates a powerful road presence. Toyota’s new ‘Keen Look’ styling at the front of the car sweeps back from the badge to merge into the headlights. And the LED daytime running lights are set low and wide to give a real status.
All the new Auris Hybrid is lower and 30mm longer than the previous model which enhances the sporty look. With improved handling and at the same width as before, it’s even easier to thread through traffic. The lower nose and roofline reduce the frontal area, lowering the car’s drag to improve fuel efficiency and emissions.
All new Auris Hybrid leads the market with extraordinary emissions of just 87g/km CO2 and up to 74.3mpg (combined driving). Currently it qualifies for zero road fund tax and is exempt from London Congestion Charge.
Our Hybrid Synergy Drive technology makes the new Auris Hybrid an outstanding proposition as a company car too. Take the Auris Icon Hybrid, for example, company car tax is only £66 per month for a 40% tax payer. For the business owner, it’s equally attractive, qualifying for a 100% first-year capital write-down allowance meaning the amount of corporation tax a company pays is reduced by the full cost of the car.
Prius Hybrid
With the space and refinement of a large family car and the fuel economy of a supermini, there's no car quite like the Toyota Prius. It's all down to the award-winning Hybrid Synergy Drive® system. Two engines – one petrol, one electric – work in perfect harmony to recycle the energy normally lost when you slow down or brake, giving you great fuel economy in all traffic conditions. The hybrid system means ultra-low carbon emissions, too – and if you drive in electric mode, you'll produce virtually no emissions at all. With Toyota's pioneering hybrid technology, two engines are better than one.
Prius is a conventional automatic, the transmission makes driving relaxing and rewarding. Just like a diesel, the hybrid system delivers low fuel consumption. But with the Prius, the experience is better than either a conventional automatic or a diesel: it's smooth, almost silent and delivers outstanding fuel economy – and with no sacrifice in performance.
There's much more to the Prius than fuel economy and refinement, though. Inside, you'll find a range of advanced technologies that make driving utterly satisfying and trouble-free.
For example, the head-up display projects key information such as sat nav instructions and your current speed onto the base of the windscreen, so you can keep your eyes on the road. There’s also a rear camera for safer reversing and touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel.
Best of all, the Prius now features the new Toyota Touch multimedia system as standard. Upgrade to Touch & Go Plus (standard on the Prius T Spirit) and there’s Google Local Search®, as well as a smart sat nav with the latest traffic info.
Noise, gear changes, the wasted energy of stopping and starting in traffic. They're aspects of driving that we've become so accustomed to that we barely notice them any more.
But drive the Prius for a few miles and things seem very different. It's smooth – incredibly so. And quiet. Quieter than you could think possible. Best of all, it saves the energy wasted when you stop for traffic to give you greater fuel economy later on. And yet it still has the full power and performance of a conventional family car.
The Prius Plug-in
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid adds another dimension to the growing Prius family. Combining the benefits of an electric car for short trips with the ongoing fuel and cost efficiency of hybrid petrol powered car for longer journeys, it delivers unbelievable fuel economy and ultra low CO2 emissions.
The Prius Plug-in gives you all the efficiencies of an electric car, without the restrictions.
One 90-minute charge will give you the flexibility to drive up to 15.5 miles, with no CO2 emissions. Then, when you've used your electric charge, it automatically - smoothly - switches to petrol-hybrid power.
The Prius Plug-in features three driving modes. Hybrid (HV) delivers the same Hybrid Synergy Drive experience as the original Prius, engaging the petrol engine when needed.
Electric (EV) uses the battery for maximum efficiency - up to 15.5 miles from a single charge. In some circumstances, the engine will kick in to give more power. And EV-City mode permits greater use of the accelerator before the petrol engine is started.
Prius Plug-in is packed with innovative technology designed to improve every drive.
From Smart Entry and Smart Start to CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which ensures a consistently smooth drive - with seamless transitions between the different driving modes.
7 Seat Prius+
Toyota Prius+ is Europe's first full hybrid seven-seater. Designed from the ground up, Prius+ provides significant extra space, while retaining all the traditional attributes of Prius such as the lowest fuel consumption of any seven-seater on the market.
With its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2011, Prius+ is a further expansion of the Toyota Prius family, joining Prius and Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
This new vehicle offers three, independent, split/folding second row seats and a 50:50 split/folding third tier. The sleek, bold styling features an extended roofline with an integral, panoramic sunroof, retaining the iconic Prius silhouette and its characteristic aerodynamic qualities. Sharp-edged headlamps and aero-corners feature alongside distinctive rear styling.
The latest generation of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive ® powertrain found in Prius+ includes a lithium-ion battery pack, installed entirely beneath the second row seating, offering no compromise to the seven-seat passenger accommodation or loadspace of the MPV-style interior.
As in the standard Prius, the Prius+ features three 'on-demand' drive modes to increase the capabilities of the full hybrid powertrain, including the EV mode for zero emissions, zero fuel consumption, all-electric driving.
7 Seat Prius+ will be on sale in 2012.
