The Prius series from Toyota has been an amazing success so far, and the Japanese are not planning on breaking the streak. They released the Prius C, a new step in developing highly-efficient petrol vehicles.
The Prius C, oddly enough, gets more mpg in the city than on the highway – that stands 53 vs. 46 (which is incredibly efficient). These high numbers are possible thanks to the 1.5-liter in-line 4 cylinder engine paired to a 44kW (60 horsepower) electric motor. The combined power is 99 horsepower that is connected to the Front-Wheel Drive via a CVT transmission. This car goes 0 to 60 in 11.5 seconds.
The seating is arranged in a 2+3 system, with plenty of space for every passenger. The cargo holds 17.1 cu-ft (family-sized trunk).
The display provides the driver information such as the current fuel consumption. There is also a function that lets you compare your statistics with the ones of another car, and see which one runs better.
Toyota announced that a plug-in powertrain for the Prius will be an option in the future, but that it “would be difficult right now”. The EV mode of this car allows speeds of up to 25 mph, and for just a half a mile.
The 2012 Prius C has a starting price of $19,000 and it sounds like it’s going to be another hit for Toyota.
