·
4.8L/100km
Combined Fuel Consumption in Toyota’s Most Affordable Hybrid
·
Distinctive
Youthful Design Appeals to All Ages
·
Aggressive,
Sportier Look With LED Headlights and Newly Designed Taillights
·
Upgraded
Interiors and Available Technology Features
·
Surprisingly
Spacious Interior
(TORONTO, ON. – November
19, 2014) The Prius c, Toyota’s most affordable hybrid vehicle takes on a
sporty new look for 2015.
There’s much more to the
Prius c than super-high fuel economy. A restyled front with standard
single LED projector low and high-beam headlights, two new exterior colours
whose names demand almost as much attention as their hues (Electric Lime
Metallic, and Tangerine Splash Pearl), and new “light pipe” taillights add a
futuristic touch to the design. Add to that a cabin upgraded with refined
materials, and Prius c makes a compelling choice among Subcompact cars,
hybrid or not.
For years, the iconic
Prius liftback has been synonymous with “hybrid.” Today, the Prius is available
in four different flavours. The Prius Family includes the larger standard Prius
liftback, the even larger and roomier Prius v, Prius Plug-in Hybrid with
all the benefits of the Prius - plus extended all-electric range, and of course
the youthful urban-friendly Prius c. In addition, Toyota offers hybrid
versions of its Camry, and Highlander, making Toyota the global hybrid leader
with sales of over 7 million units.
Toyota Value in Three
Grades
Prius c is
available in three value-packed grades. In all trim levels the cabin combines
futuristic design elements with everyday comfort and practicality.
In addition to the
all-new single LED projector low and high-beam headlights, standard features in
the Prius c include a shark-fin antenna, automatic climate control, a
full colour TFT Multi-Information Display, and remote keyless entry with
illuminated entry. The tilt-telescopic steering wheel features integrated
switches for audio, climate control, and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability.
The standard 3.5” TFT colour Multi-Information Display shows outside
temperature, fuel economy information, cruising range, EV miles driven, Hybrid
System Indicator, ECO Score, and energy monitor.
The Prius c comes with a
standard 6.1” display audio system including four speakers, USB audio input,
voice recognition, and Bluetooth capability.
The Prius c fitted
with the available Upgrade Package sweetens the package with premium
cloth seats, height-adjustable driver’s seat cushion, 60/40 split fold down
rear seats, cruise control, six-speakers, leather covered instrument panel, a
tonneau cover, and more.
Stepping up, The Prius
c Technology adds Navigation, Advanced Voice Recognition,
SMS-to-speech and Email-to-speech capability, SofTex Leather heated front
seats, backup camera, a leather wrapped steering wheel, power moonroof, 15-inch
aluminum alloy wheels, and more.
The Prius c Technology
also adds the convenience of the Smart Key system with Push Button Start. It
also receives a feature from the larger Prius line; the Touch Tracer Display.
Touch sensors on the steering wheel buttons display a duplicate image on the instrument
panel, directly in line of sight, reducing driver eye movement for better
concentration on the road.
The “c” Stands for
City. But It Makes Sense Out in the Country, Too
Toyota designed the Prius
c as an urban-friendly runabout, and yes, the “c” stands for
city. However, you certainly don’t need to live in a city to reap the benefits
of ownership. That 4.8L/100km highway fuel economy rating is a boon in Canada’s
wide-open spaces, where gas stations are few and far between.
The Prius c is
surprisingly spacious for a subcompact. Efficient packaging of the hybrid
powertrain, battery pack and fuel tank results in 2959L of total interior
volume (2475L passenger volume, 484L cargo volume), including an ample 888mm of
rear legroom. The efficient packaging also gives the Prius c a low
centre of gravity and excellent weight distribution, which translates into
fun-to-drive agility. Also with NVH improvements for the 2015 model year, the
drive experience is even better than before.
Youthful Exterior and
Interior Design
The Prius c design
projects a fun, youthful attitude that appeals to all ages. It’s also slippery,
cheating the wind with a low 0.28 coefficient of drag (Cd). Its lower-body area
is wider below the beltline, and combined with very short overhangs and
sculpted rear flares, it gives the car an athletic stance.
A wide-ranging colour
palette provides hues to satisfy every taste. In addition to the two new
exterior colours, the Prius c looks lively in Blue Streak Metallic,
Moonglow, Absolutely Red, Black Sand Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic or Classic
Silver Metallic.
What Makes It Go (on So
Little Gas)
The Prius c uses
its own version of Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive, the technology found in all the
brand’s hybrids. The gas engine, electric motor and battery pack are all
smaller and lighter than in the standard Prius.
The 1.5-litre in-line,
4-cylinder gasoline engine runs on the Atkinson cycle to increase efficiency,
contributing to a total hybrid system output of 99 hp. Locating the Prius c’s
144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack under the rear passenger seat, near
the center of the vehicle and low in the chassis, helps achieve a low centre of
gravity for excellent agility.
Like all Toyota hybrids,
the Prius c is a full hybrid, meaning it can run on the gasoline power
alone, battery power alone, or a combination of both. Hybrid Synergy Drive
combines the output of the gas engine and electric motor through an innovative
continuously variable transmission.
As on other Toyota
hybrids, the Prius c employs a slew of other technologies to curb its
fuel usage. Regenerative braking helps to recapture electrical energy under
deceleration, sending it to the battery, which helps to reduce fuel
consumption. Electric power runs the water pump and power steering assist,
eliminating drive belts and even some maintenance needs.
One of the three drive
modes; EV mode, drives solely on battery power for up to 1.6km under certain
conditions. Where would you do that? Maybe when you think circling city blocks
while looking for a parking space would be wasting gas.
There’s also Normal Mode,
which is ideal for everyday driving, as well as Eco Mode, which can help
optimize fuel economy when you’re willing to give up some throttle response and
don’t need the air conditioner to be ice cold.
Light, Tight and Agile
A stiff body structure,
made so by extensive use of lightweight, high-strength steel, helps make the
Prius c safe, and also allows suspension tuning that yields an admirable
combination of handling responses and ride comfort. Front suspension is a
MacPherson strut design, and the rear tuned torsion beam configuration employs
coil springs.
The Prius c rolls
on 15-inch wheels, available in steel or aluminum alloy, depending on the trim
line. The steel wheels come with a newly designed cover for the 2015 model
year. With a 9.6m turning circle you might forget how to make 3-point turns,
because you won’t need to.
Big on Safety
Safety is always standard
on a Toyota, so every 2015 Prius c is equipped with nine airbags,
including a driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front
passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver knee airbag, driver and front
passenger seat cushion airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags.
As with every new Toyota
since 2011, the 2015 Prius c is also standard equipped with the six
active safety technologies of the Star Safety System: Antilock Brake System,
Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction
Control and Smart Stop Technology work together to help drivers avoid potential
accident situations.
The 2015 Toyota Prius c
will arrive at Toyota Dealers across Canada this winter.
