Toyota has unveiled a new Prius HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) in Japan and Prius Prime PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) at the 2022 LA Auto Show with the company’s fifth-generation hybrid system and second-generation TNGA platform, promising more style, comfort, and performance. Meaning “to go before” in Latin, the Prius created and led the market for HEVs over the 25 years since it was first launched in 1997.

While cumulative sales of the Prius worldwide have reached above 5 million units as of March 2022, the development team decided to start from scratch and look at what the Prius needs to remain popular for the next 25 years. To communicate and strengthen the appeal of hybrid cars for a wider audience under the Hybrid Reborn concept, Toyota says that the new car was developed with stylish designs that users will fall in love with at first sight and captivating driving performance.

Following Japan, the new 2023 Prius will be launched in North America, Europe, and then other countries around the world. It will also be offered in Japan through the Kinto car subscription service, details of which will be announced in winter this year.

Perhaps most importantly, the “monoform” silhouette of the car now has more stylish proportions, which come with a lower center of gravity and larger-diameter 19-in wheels enabled by the TNGA-C platform. Key design details are the front hammerhead-shark-like design and the rear combination taillights extending across the car.

An “island architecture” concept is designed to achieve a low-stress, spacious interior with a cockpit that the company says makes it easy to concentrate on driving. The instrument panel features ambient lighting that becomes Toyota’s first illuminated warning system. The new Toyota Safety Sense-linked feature alerts the driver to detected objects through flashing lights before audible warnings to create a more reassuring driving experience.

The second-generation TNGA platform has additional reinforcements throughout the body for increased rigidity and improved quietness. With front MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones, the suspension provides stability for better straight-line driving, responsiveness in corners, and line-tracing ability.

 

Higher output powertrains

The new Prius comes with Toyota’s first 2.0-L PHEV system in Prime trim said to deliver dramatically improved acceleration and quietness. The combination of a high-efficiency Dynamic Force engine and hybrid system energized by a new 13.6-kW·h lithium-ion battery achieves maximum system output of as much as 164 kW (220 hp), a nearly 75-kW (100-hp) increase for 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 6.7 s while maintaining the same level of fuel efficiency as the previous model.

The plug-in hybrid system of the 2.0-L prototype has an EV driving range about 50% greater than the previous model’s 25 mi (40 km). This means that the new Prius can operate in EV mode alone for most daily drives, says Toyota. The new system also lets users enjoy air conditioning and audio systems from an external power source.

With the Prime PHEV, the battery pack is located under the rear seat instead of in the cargo area, giving the new Prius a lower center of gravity and increased cargo capacity. Compared to the previous-generation Prime, it is about 2 in (50 mm) shorter in length, 2 in lower, 1 in (25 mm) wider, and 1 in longer, with a 50 mm longer wheelbase and a hip point that’s almost 1 in lower.

The more conventional hybrid system is expected to maintain the same level of fuel efficiency as in the previous model. However, the maximum system output is 144 kW (193 PS) for the new 2.0-L version, which is 1.6 times greater than the previous model for better performance. This version comes with the latest E-Four all-wheel-drive system for improved uphill performance on low-friction surfaces like snow-covered roads and greater stability when turning.

The Prius is equipped with some interesting charging-related features.

It has two 100-V AC, 1500-W accessory power outlets—one at the back of the center console and one in the cargo space. The BEV external power supply mode uses power from the battery only without having to start the engine, while the HEV external power supply mode recharges the battery from the engine if the remaining power is too low.

While the base Prius comes with a panoramic view moonroof that can be fully opened, PHEV models are equipped with a second-generation solar-charging system that achieves a more efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity, generating the power equivalent of driving up to 1250 km (777 mi) per year.

Electric power generated from solar while parked is used to not only charge the drive battery but also to power air conditioning and other functions. Electric power generated during driving is used to supplement the auxiliary battery system.

 

Updated tech

At the LA show, Toyota provided some details on the tech of Prius Prime. The available 12.3-in audio/multimedia system designed and engineered by Toyota’s Texas-based Connected Technologies team offers enhanced connectivity and convenience features including over-the-air updates. Users can interact with the system through touch and voice activation controls.

With the available Connected Service Drive Connect, drivers and passengers have access to Intelligent Assistant, Cloud Navigation, and Destination Assist. “Hey, Toyota” awakens the system for voice-activated commands to search for directions, find Google points of interest, adjust audio controls, and change the cabin temperature. Cloud Navigation uses the cloud to download the latest available map, traffic, and routing information. Destination Assist gives access to 24/7 live-agent assistance to locate the next destination.

The audio/multimedia allows for dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, with support for standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. An available Wi-Fi Connect one-month trial offers 4G connectivity for up to five devices, turning the Prius Prime into an AT&T hotspot. Adding to the HD Radio, USB data, and a SiriusXM Platinum Plan three-month trial subscription, Wi-Fi Connect enables the new integrated streaming feature providing the ability to link to Apple Music and Amazon Music subscriptions.

Each Prius Prime offers available connected services. Safety Connect includes an emergency assistance button (SOS), 24/7 enhanced roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, a stolen vehicle locator, and collision assistance. Service Connect gives drivers the capability to receive vehicle health reports, maintenance alerts, and reminders. Both are available for up to a 10-year trial.

With the Toyota app, users can stay connected to their Prius Prime with a one-year trial of the Remote Connect service. With it, users can activate headlights, lock/unlock the doors, remotely start the vehicle, check vehicle status, receive reminder notifications, and set guest driver alerts.

 

Toyota Safety Sense

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the latest active safety package, is standard on all Prius grades, with the range of detectable objects expanded. It has a monocular camera at the front, a rear-facing camera for a digital inner mirror, and an in-vehicle drive recorder.

The car can be fitted with an Advanced Park (with remote function) driving assistance system. It enables automatic entry and exit from parking spaces in a variety of situations. Operation outside the car via a dedicated smartphone app enables the car to enter and exit parking spaces remotely.

At LA, Toyota said Prius Prime’s TSS 3.0 suite of active safety systems features a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, full-speed DRCC (dynamic radar cruise control), LTA (lane tracing assist), road sign assist, and automatic high beams.

A new addition is a proactive driving assistant. When system operating conditions are met, using the vehicle’s camera and radar, this system provides gentle braking into curves or gentle braking and/or steering to help support driving tasks such as distance control between a preceding vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist.

Traffic jam assist is a first for Toyota and Prius Prime, helping to reduce driver stress for low-speed, stop-and-go driving. When driving on a highway with DRCC and LTA activated, if the system sensors detect traffic is slowing, and if operating conditions are met, it assists by providing acceleration, braking, and hands-free steering control under active driver supervision. The system is designed to operate only under speeds of about 25 mph (40 km/h), and the driver monitor camera must confirm the driver has his/her eyes on the road to allow for hands-free operation.