Prius 3rd generation. Third generation Toyota Prius

told

3.9 liters

hybrid Lexus

Toyota Camry.

At the end of October in dealer centers Toyota came up with two interesting new items at once. We have already talked about one of them, we will not ignore the other. Talking about a hybrid car Toyota Prius, which has not been officially supplied to Russia before.

The current Prius is the third generation of perhaps the most famous hybrid model in the world. Created in 1997 by the efforts of Japanese engineers, this car, over the 12 years of its existence, has allowed Toyota to occupy the previously vacant niche of environmentally friendly cars, marking the vector of development for the entire automotive industry in the coming years. Over the years of its existence, the Prius of the first and second generations have sold over a million copies around the world.



I must say that once, in the years of its infancy, the Prius was a full-fledged sedan, and the plump "sirloin" part did not give it away. Everything changed with the advent of the second generation, which saw the light in 2004, already in hatchback status. The current car body is essentially a deep restyling of the previous one, just more advanced in terms of aerodynamics and more beautiful. But the platform is now different - it was borrowed from the current one Toyota Corolla, which is a shame, because before the Prius was built on its own. But what was unchanged in all three generations was the presence of a gasoline-electric power plant and a digital dashboard located in the center - a sort of symbol of a futuristic flagship leading the entire Japanese corporation to a brighter future!



Inside the Prius is really a real spaceship! The interior is trimmed only with environmentally friendly plastic, the console wraps around the perimeter, the dual-zone dashboard is replete with incomprehensible symbols. There is even a projector that displays information on windshield. However, if you look closely, you can see that there is a lot in common with the same Corolla - both in terms of content and the dubious quality of materials.

But not the interior, and not the design as a whole - the pride of the Prius. Pride is the most advanced hybrid drive in the world. At least, that's what the developers of the Hybrid Synergy Drive power plant say, which runs on nickel-metal hydride batteries located at the rear of the hatchback. It consists of two engines - a 98-horsepower 1.8-liter gasoline engine and an 80-horsepower electric motor. True, their indicators do not add up when receiving the total power, and in total we have only 134 hp. But passport expense fuel is impressive - total 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers. This is much better than the old Prius, which required all 5.1 liters.



The optimization of aerodynamics (the Cx coefficient is 0.25 - a real record!) and the refinement of the continuously variable ECVT (Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission) hybrid transmission with a planetary gear made it possible to reduce consumption. The principle is the same as that of Lexus hybrids, but the efficiency is even greater. For developers, it is very important that the most advanced hybrid in the world bear the Toyota name.

However, is a hybrid drive really that economical?

If you compare this car, say, with a two-liter diesel BMW 1 series, then the comparison will not be in favor of a hybrid. Yes, BMW consumes 4.8 liters in the combined cycle, but it rides like a sports car, accelerating to hundreds in 7.5 seconds (Prius accelerates in 10.4 seconds). Diesel Golf 1.6 comparable to the Prius in terms of dynamics, which, alas, is not represented in Russia, will consume from DSG box only 4.5 liters.



By the way, in one of the issues of the TopGear program, an interesting test for efficiency was shown, the participants of which were ... Toyota Prius and BMW M3 V8. Cars drove around the ring at a calm pace - the Prius first, the BMW behind him. Imagine everyone's surprise when the average consumption of the M3 turned out to be even lower than that of the Prius ...

The popularity of the Prius in the United States is understandable - the prices for heavy fuel there are rather big. But in our country it is possible to achieve this kind of fuel savings for significantly less money, and taking into account the ratio of prices for gasoline and heavy fuel, driving diesels is even cheaper ...

You can excuse yourself by saying that buying such a car is rather a matter of prestige. You will not only save on gasoline, but sign the desire to save the environment from CO2 emissions and make the city in which we live more environmentally friendly and clean. However, it would be strange to forget that rechargeable batteries are by no means environmentally friendly in production. The same TopGear test allows you to look at this problem much more broadly. For example, as the story says, in order to produce the same batteries for the Prius or to deliver these cars to the consumer in the States or Europe on huge ships, such environmental damage is caused that the minimum emissions of the car itself cannot compensate for it ...



In addition, a lot of purely Russian questions arise about hybrids: how are such machines operated in our conditions, especially in winter? What is the shelf life of the batteries? Does their capacity decrease over time? How do they perform in comparison with a diesel ... Until the answers to all these questions are found, no one will be in a hurry to switch to a hybrid ...

Finally, the price of the new model also raises doubts.

Whatever the car may be technically, it still remains just a golf-class hatchback. But the price of the Prius (1,177,000 rubles) lives an independent life, being higher than that of the most popular business class sedan Toyota Camry.

In the US, Toyota Prius costs $22,000, Russian customs duty adds another 50% to this figure. Another thing is that one could offer a choice different levels machine equipment. Then the price would fall to approximately 850,000-900,000 rubles. And these are quite real numbers.

Perhaps this considerable figure indicates that Toyota is withdrawing the Prius not to increase sales, but for prestige and strategic purposes. By the way, the only equipment is called “Prestige”, and you can’t call it poor: seven airbags, a stabilization system, a multimedia complex with Russified navigation, keyless access to the salon and engine start with a button, intelligent system parking assistance, sensory system on-board computer control on the steering wheel (Touch Tracer), LED headlights and lights. Isn't that premium?



The fact that Toyota is not going to massively sell Prius in Russia is evidenced by another point. According to unofficial data, only 100 cars were allocated for the whole of Russia to begin with - the plant barely manages to cope with demand in America and Japan itself. The car is exhibited at dealerships for informational purposes only and is available only by order, so there are no test cars.

Perhaps Toyota wants to prepare the market for the mass sale of hybrids in 3-5 years, to form a public opinion that hybrids are bought not at all to save fuel, and most importantly, to create a technical infrastructure for their maintenance. But the final word on the future of hybrids has not yet been said, among which the Prius, of course, remains the first number. So hurry, and really, nowhere.

To answer

Can a car whose length is almost 4.5 meters to spend 2.82 liters of gasoline per 100 km in the urban cycle? It turns out that there is such an “instance” - this is the Hybrid Toyota Prius II. The second-generation hybrid Toyota, which had barely appeared, was awarded four prestigious awards at once.

The performance that Hybrid Synergy Drive delivers, referred to as a squared hybrid, is simply amazing.

The main technical indicators of the hybrid Toyota Prius II

The dimensions of the car are 4450 mmx1725 mmx1490 mm, which corresponds to the length, width and height. The size of the wheelbase and stakes front / rear - 2700 mm and 1505/1480 mm. The minimum trunk volume in a hybrid Toyota is 408 liters, and the ground clearance is 145 mm. Max Speed– 179 km / h, acceleration to "weave" - ​​10.9 s. Fuel consumption in the city and on the highway (per 100 km) - five and 4.2 liters. The volume of the gas tank is 45 liters, the tire size is 185/65/R15.

Types of hybrid drives

Speaking of hybrids, which, by the way, are also produced by Honda, and dozens of enterprises are developing, it is worth remembering two types of hybrid drive - parallel and serial.

In the first case, with the help of a gearbox, the internal combustion engine is connected to the wheels, to which an electric motor is also connected (it does not matter to the same as the ICE or others), powered by a battery.

In the latter case, the internal combustion engine is not connected to the wheels. It runs on a battery-charging generator. The current is supplied to the traction electric motors either directly from the generator and additionally from batteries, or from batteries (depending on the driving mode).

Twisting flows tracked on the central display Toyota Hybrid

In both cases, electric motors can work as generators during braking, thus it is possible to recover energy and gain economic benefits.

The same hybrid Toyota uses both combinations, which allow achieving both economy and high acceleration dynamics, which gives the right to call it a hybrid of hybrids.

The volume of the gasoline four-cylinder engine is 1.5 liters, and power - 75 hp. The power of a hybrid Toyota can hardly be called a record for such a volume, and for compression (13: 1). But the engine itself (without an electric motor) is economical in itself. And, most importantly, it meets the most stringent toxicity requirements, which have not yet been introduced in America, i.e. Toyota's hybrid emissions are "ultra super low" and the standard is "partially zero".

Now about the electric motor on permanent magnets: its power 67 HP, synchronous.

The scheme of stuffing hybrid Toyota

Toyota hybrid batteries are nickel-metal hydride batteries with an attention-grabbing characteristic - peak power is 28 “horses” (against the usual 1-2 hp). In all driving modes, of course, the system of redistribution between these load elements works. A trip in a hybrid Toyota is possible only on an internal combustion engine, only on an electric motor, or on their simultaneous use. At the same time, part of the power of the gasoline engine with uniform movement still gets to the generator, control system, and then, to traction motor electric. At first glance, these transformations entail additional losses, in fact, engineers, in this way, achieve the optimal mode for the DSV (speed / load), which has a positive effect on fuel consumption.

"Hybrid-hybrid" system: link diagram

By the way: The huge torque of the hybrid Toyota, which the electric motor is capable of delivering at any speed, is the key to flexible and convenient control of the huge traction on the front wheels. From the wheels (during braking) and the gasoline engine, the battery is simultaneously charged (the voltage in this traction "smart" electrical network reaches 500 V). For such high powers, it implies relatively low currents, therefore, low losses due to ohmic heating of the wires in comparison with systems used earlier (for the same Prius I, it is only 274 V).

The power divider is another highlight of the hybrid Toyota: a planetary transmission, a central or sun wheel connected to a generator, a planetary one with a DSV, an outer ring with wheels and an electric motor. In a variety of directions, the Toyota Hybrid system redistributes power flows very smoothly.

Hybrid drives: serial and parallel hybrid

Electronics

There are a lot of electronics in this car: the electric drive of the air conditioner, which allows you to reduce the energy consumption that is saved in this car; the second generation VSC, which controls the electric power steering, as well as EBD ABS, etc. The grown-up Toyota Prius II, which has moved into the “D” segment, is quite voluminous - it is practically a hatchback that has the features of a mini-van.

Interior

Externally, the Hybrid Toyota does not make much impression, since it is intended for those. Who appreciates, first of all, comfort.

And the cabin is really comfortable: very comfortable seats that meet high ergonomic requirements. The salon itself is very bright, spacious, with a pretty dashboard with LCD monitor on-board computer. The screen diagonal is 14.5 cm. It contains information about pavement and the condition of the car, the distribution of power flows ("Energy"), the remaining fuel and the number of kilometers that can be driven on it ("Consumption"), the distance traveled. It also serves as a map of the navigation system. Thanks to the second generation Prius, the car gained worldwide fame.

But, even such a high assessment did not make the company's specialists stop. Almost twelve years after the debut of an amazing car, the third generation Toyota Prius Hybrid was presented, in which they tried to preserve the originality of the predecessor's image to the maximum, introducing new features into it.

Third generation Prius: differences from Toyota Prius II

The new car has grown in length by 15 mm, has become wider by 20 mm. The dimensions of the wheelbase and the height of the car have not changed. It was decided not to deviate far from the "triangular" silhouette of the eco car. As if a light touch connected the headlights with the rear ones, adding some piquancy to the outlines. Unlike the previous hybrid Toyota, now the highest point of the roof, previously located above the heads of the front passenger and driver, has now been shifted to the center of the cabin. This for the passengers of the second row turned into additional comfort. Now tall passengers may not be afraid of hitting their heads. There is also more legroom due to the fact that the thickness of the backrests of the front seats has been reduced by 30 mm.

For the driver, there are also innovations: the gear knob, which was previously located on the dashboard, was moved to a console raised above the floor. The wheels of a hybrid Toyota, depending on the configuration, can be 17 or fifteen inches.

In the restyled car of the third generation, the designers, in order to somewhat refresh the appearance of the car, the designers changed the head optics, updated the interior trim materials, changed the location of individual elements, worked on sound insulation, modernized the chassis, making the suspension stiffer, added engine volume (up to 1.8 liters ), whose power is 99 hp, and electric motor- 82. When driving on electric traction at a speed of 50 km / h, the power reserve is up to those kilometers.

Small protrusions appeared in the front bumper of the hybrid Toyota, which are not so much a design element as a functional nuance that improves airflow management. The new model has a 0.01 lower drag coefficient (Cx=0.25).

Toyota's hybrid body name change to ZVW30 from NHW20 reflects the fact that the old engine has been replaced by a new 1.8-liter N-series engine, which can reduce fuel consumption at high speeds. The electric motor was equipped with a planetary gearbox. The system was supplemented with an oil electronic pump, an innovative exhaust gas heat recovery system.

In addition to the electric driving mode "EV Mode", there are now two more - economical ("ECO Mode") and for dynamic driving - "Power Mode".

If, when driving in a normal style in a hybrid Toyota with ups and downs and stops per 100 km, 4 liters of fuel are consumed, then in the "eco" mode, the figure can be reduced to 1.75 liters.

START. May 2014 My 2010 Outlander V6, which I was generally happy with, died in an accident. Due to the high annual mileage (50,000 km), the choice fell on a hybrid, in particular the Prius, for the following reasons: 1. The Prius is one of the most reliable cars according to various ratings. It is noteworthy that at the same time it is one of the most technically complex cars. 2. The Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient mass-produced cars. In particular, I fit between 3.7 and 4.2 l / 100 km in the city, and 3.9 - 4.5 on the highway. Just drove 800 km in the mountains with a consumption of 3.9. On cruise control, I basically kept 95 km / h. 3. The Prius is quite versatile - a hatchback. 4. The Prius is spacious enough - with a height of 186, I can sit "by myself." 5. Prius is comfortable enough, but certainly not premium. 6. The Prius is quite unpretentious in maintenance: the brake pads practically do not change, the car does not have a single belt! At the same time, from conversations with taxi drivers, I learned that the batteries in them do not change, and the cars themselves take care of 800,000 - 1,000,000 km in urban driving conditions. 7. According to ratings, the Prius is also one of the safest cars. 8. The Prius is a fairly "green" car. In addition to low fuel consumption, I, in particular, have a solar panel that powers the automatic cooling fan in the heat in the parking lot, so that the car does not overheat and is not wasted fuel. While the car is new to me. I can’t say that I am overwhelmed with vivid impressions: the purpose of the car is different from a brutal SUV or a sports convertible. Love the design on the outside, cheap on the inside. All this is a matter of taste. But in general, quite comfortable, adjusted for the fact that this is not a premium class. Lots of electronics. The trunk is decent for a body of this class. Bottom line: The Prius is a car that will get you from point A to point B safely and reliably with minimal fuel consumption. Who cares - decide for yourself. Continuation. End of 2014, more than 30 thousand km on the odometer. Advantages: Over time, I stopped "squeezing out economy" - speed on the highway up to 120, more dynamic driving in the city, fuel consumption increased to 5 l / 100 km. The machine integrates well with cell phone text messages, and with phones in general, and there's good voice navigation support, so some of the work can be done on the go. In the heat, you leave the car in the sun - the solar-powered ventilation system maintains a reasonable temperature inside the cabin. It is interesting that the drive of the stove and air conditioner is purely electric - the car can stand with the engine turned off, and it will be warm or cool inside - depending on the temperature set on the air conditioner, the engine will turn on itself from time to time - to charge the battery. If I get in the city on a green wave with uniform movement without jerks at speeds up to 70 km / h, it turns out to drive up to 5-7 km almost only on the battery. Once I went uphill with fuel almost at zero, the gas pump caught air and the engine stalled - the battery was enough to gain only 30 meters of height, which in general was enough to drive off the highway and refuel :) Once I drove to a friend's house and left the car on the street with an emergency gang (difficult section of the road, rain and night), he advised to turn it off so that the battery would not run out, and I said that I had a hybrid and the battery would not run out until Friday, he appreciated the joke :) On long descents, when everyone’s brakes start to burn, I just smile. IN economy mode the dynamics are weak, but in Power mode, acceleration is very acceptable: somehow I was in a hurry and got distracted while talking on the phone while overtaking uphill, I came to my senses when it was under 160 on the speedometer, immediately reset it, of course :) From maintenance, I only change oil at the dealer center. Disadvantages: Spending 2-4 hours a day in the car, the interior begins to seem boring, but there are no complaints about quality, economy. Everything is just too good as expected. Continuation. May 2015. About 50,000 on the odometer. No breakdowns or malfunctions. It has been noticed that when it gets warmer, the battery works better, and overall fuel consumption decreases by about 0.5 l / 100 km. In general, measured driving also becomes a habit, on well-known routes you know how to "stretch" the battery, and consumption of about 4 l / 100 km, or even lower, is achieved quite regularly. However, the average for the tank is + -4.5, and actually on a 45 l tank I drive 1,000 + -50 km. At the same time, approximately 40% is a city, and 60% is a highway. Follow-up: July 2016, over 100,000 km on the odometer. The machine has proven to be versatile and durable. Inside, he transported a partially disassembled sofa, a wardrobe, and a dishwasher - in all cases, the tailgate was closed. Once, passing a turn of the highway, I saw a wooden pallet on the road. I was driving 90 km / h in a stream of cars, it was raining, it was not possible to maneuver, brake, so I “rammed” at speed, leaving the left wheels on the road, and right through the pallet deck right through. The car, breaking through the boardwalk of the pallet, flew up right side up, but stayed on the road and received no damage or camber changes. By the way, they survived, and the wheels (Continental tires). After the last service at 100,000 km, wear of native brake linings is 50%. Apart from regular maintenance, no technical repair not required for the specified mileage. Continuation: February 2018, 180 thousand km on the odometer The car is not old yet, but the mileage is significant. The first failures appeared. With minimal use, the gasket around the sunroof dried out and partially collapsed; with sufficiently intensive work, it corny worked out a resource and the windshield wiper drive wore out; and, most unpleasantly, began to increase fuel consumption. The latter is still within the tolerable: now I have 5.5 - 6 l / 100 km, but this is still noticeably more than it was before 100 thousand km. At 170 thousand km. the first time I changed discs and brake pads - this is as it were expected. Disadvantages that were not critical before began to attract attention. 1. The car was taken with one child in the family, now there are three. There isn't enough room for three in the back. As seen now, even with children on back seat, this is a car for 4 + 1 people, not 5 people. 2. With more passengers in the back seat, I noticed the lack of ventilation in the armrest of the first row seats - for second row passengers. In summer, in order to get cool in the back, it is necessary to lower the temperature on the air conditioner greatly. As a result, it becomes excessively cool in the front row, and even cold, so that it just becomes better in the back. CONCLUSION: The machine is a workhorse, economical, reliable, but with a resource limit, not particularly demanding and without claims. Filled it up and drove from A to B with minimal fuel consumption. But if someone prefers speed, increased comfort, emotions - look in another category. Appearance and interior design is a matter of taste. TIP: Anyone looking for a hybrid or electric car - I advise you to take an interest in the resource and cost of replacing / repairing the battery. Based on my experience, it seems to me that battery technology has not yet developed to an acceptable level. In addition, with the gradual failure of the cells, the machine continues to carry their dead weight, which further increases the consumption. In general, if the annual mileage is 20-30 thousand km, it may be rational to have such a car, but if it is 50 thousand km or more, the point in a hybrid or electric car may be doubtful.

Toyota Prius is a car from a popular brand in the world, featuring a hybrid engine, reliability and an increased level of comfort. Transport is assembled at the largest factories in China and Japan.

The Prius is economical, almost does not pollute the atmosphere (corresponds to the Euro-5 class), reliable and comfortable. In addition, he does not have idle move which distinguishes the model from its competitors.

Models of Toyota Prius

The release of Toyota Prius started in 1997. The main models include:

1. NHW10 - first generation (Prius-1). This model was only sold on automotive market Japan. Year of release (1997-2000).
2. NHW11 - rebranded first generation (Prius-1.1). The start of sales started in 2000 and continued for the next three years.
3. NHW20 - second generation (Prius-2). In 2003 appeared on the market a new version Toyota Prius, which kept on the conveyor until 2011.
4. ZVW30 - third generation (Prius-3). Released in 2009.
5. ZVW35 - the third generation (Prius-3 PHV) The model was put on the conveyor in 2012 and is produced until today.
6. ZVW40 and ZVW41 - third generation (restyling). Release start - 2011. The difference between the two mentioned options is in the number of seats. In the first case, this is a 7-seater, and in the second, a 5-seater station wagon.
7. Toyota Prius 4 generation - debuted in September 2015. Pro this car there is still little complete information, so we will tell about it a little later.

Features and Specifications

Toyota Prius is a popular "hybrid" in wide circles. As mentioned above, the release of the car was launched in 1997.

1. First NHW10/11 models.

It had an electric motor with a power of 30 kW and a battery with a capacity of 6 Ah. The gasoline engine boasted a volume of one and a half liters and a power of 58 hp. The car accelerated to “hundreds” in 15.5 seconds.

The principle of operation of the hybrid is as follows:

1. The petrol engine runs only on the battery charge, and the electric motor is responsible for the movement vehicle(sequential mode of operation);
2. Any of the motors (gasoline or electric) is responsible for the movement of the car. This type of control is considered optimal.

2. Second model NHW20.

Belong to the second generation. Works on a similar principle. The power part of the car is called Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive. It consists of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 76 hp. and an electric motor with a power of 68 hp.

The total power is 116 "horses".

The main achievement of the new model was the minimum harmfulness. Combined CO2 emissions were only 104 g/km.

The efficiency of the car deserves special attention. The average fuel consumption in the city is 8 liters, and when driving on the highway - 5.5 liters.

The new Hybrid Sinergy Drive has the following operating modes:

• The start of movement is made by an electric motor powered by a battery. After picking up speed, the gasoline engine is connected to work, and the electric motor goes into standby mode;
• In the case of active acceleration, the two types of motor work together to achieve maximum power;
• Uniform movement is characterized by the active operation of the electric motor. In this case, the petrol engine is switched off. If the battery charge level drops below the acceptable level, then the computer starts the motor to make up for the lost capacity.

A feature of the Prius II is the saturation of electronics, such as ABS, VSC and EBD, as well as the presence of an economical electric drive that drives the car's air conditioning.

The body of the car has also changed, which has turned from a classic sedan into a hatchback.

In spite of external changes, transport did not impress buyers. The manufacturer, when creating the second version, was no longer chasing beauty.

The task was to make the trip as comfortable as possible for the driver and passenger.

The salon is spacious and has a unique style. The instrument panel is well thought out. The LCD monitor of the onboard computer is installed in the central part.

A diagonal of 14.5 centimeters is enough to see the information on the screen even with poor eyesight.

Basic information conveyed on-board computer- fuel consumption, power distribution between the battery, wheels and engine, fuel balance and more. The information is updated every five minutes.

3. Prius-3 (ZVW30/35).

Appeared in 2009. It was this generation of the car that provided the model with worldwide recognition.

The new car has become longer and wider (by 1.5 and 2.0 centimeters, respectively). As for the length of the wheelbase and the height of the body part, they remained unchanged.

The appearance of the car has also changed. Now the rear and front lights seem to have united with each other, thanks to the seemingly insignificant, but harmoniously looking stripes on the sides of the body.

An important feature for passengers was the shift of the highest point of the body to the central part of the cabin. Now, even with a height of 1.7 meters and above, you can feel comfortable and not be afraid to hit your head. The passenger and driver seats have become thinner by three centimeters, there is room for the knees.

Changed position and gearshift knob. From the dashboard, where it was previously, the handle was moved to the elevation of the center console.

Buyers have the opportunity to choose the diameter of the wheels - between 15 and 17 inches.

In the third version of the Toyota Prius, small protrusions appeared to provide better control of the vehicle's airflow. In comparison with the second version, the air resistance coefficient has decreased by 0.01 (from 0.25 to 0.24).

The power part of the car also experienced serious changes. Instead of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, a 1.8-liter engine with a power of 99 horsepower.

The decision to increase the volume of the engine was caused by the desire of developers to reduce fuel consumption when driving at high speeds.

The total power during the operation of the electric and gasoline engine is 136 horsepower. The car accelerates to “hundreds” in 10.4 seconds.

A planetary gearbox appeared in the electric motor, supplemented by a heat recovery system, as well as an oil pump.

Additional modes of operation have also been added. So, instead of one "EV Mode", when the car was driven only by electric traction, two more options appeared:

• "Power Mode" - a mode designed for traveling at high speeds;
• "ECO Mode" is an economical option designed for reduced consumption of the fuel mixture.

In normal mode, fuel consumption averages 4 liters per hundred. When switching to the eco-variant, it is reduced to 1.75 liters.

4. Restyled Prius-3 (ZVW40 and ZVW41).

In 2011, the world saw a new restyled version of the already beloved third Prius.

The designers did not make changes to the power unit, focusing on appearance and car interior.

So, LED sections appeared in the head optics, the air intake hole increased, the interior trim changed (the quality of the material used improved).

A number of devices have changed location on the dashboard. The Japanese paid more attention to soundproofing.

The suspension, which has become stiffer, has also undergone structural changes.

The power unit remained unchanged - the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor for 82 "horses".

Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 3.9 liters per "hundred". Besides, new model"learned" to ride only on electric traction.

Reviews from Toyota Prius owners

The best indicator of quality, reliability and recognition of a car - reviews real owners. To make things fair, below are both positive and negative reviews.

Positive reviews.

1. Viktor Semenov, 46 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2008, mileage - 110 thousand kilometers.

“I have been the proud owner of a Toyota Prius for eight years now. During the operation, the car was not seriously repaired.

The main job was to change the oil and filter elements. A year earlier, we bought a Toyota Prius and my son, so he managed to run over 200 thousand kilometers all the time.

All that was done on the car — oil change, candles and filters. There are no complaints about either of the two cars.

After several kilometers behind the wheel of a car, you don’t even want to consider other options.

The machine is economical, pulls well at any speed, reliable in operation.

From additional options It is worth noting the rear-view camera, which has repeatedly saved from collisions.

2. Yuri Skorikov, 47 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2009, mileage - 115 thousand kilometers.

“I bought the car in 2012. During the time that I have a car, I managed to hit 60 thousand kilometers. No complaints about transport.

During the operation had to make a running diagnostics and change the oil. If there were problems, they were fixed personally.

Once almost burned the inverter. When replacing the battery, my son managed to mix up the polarity, after which an error popped up on the dashboard.

The service said that the car is worthy of respect, because the inverter survived and did not burn out.

I think that the main advantages of the car are reliability, high quality of the engine and running gear, as well as economy.”

3. Evgeny Petrenko, 49 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.8 l, automatic transmission, 2010 onwards, mileage - 90 thousand kilometers.

“The experience of owning different cars is minimal. Before the Toyota Prius, there were only two cars - Hondas of 2004 and 2006 of release.

When choosing a car, I paid attention to the following criteria - efficiency, reliability and maintenance costs.

Friends advised me to buy a Toyota Prius, and as it turned out, not in vain. The car turned out to be easy to drive, economical, stable on the road. The design deserves special attention, which caused not fake envy among others.

I bought the car already from hand, so many alterations have already been completed.

So, ground clearance turned out to be raised to 20 cm, put excellent acoustics with ten speakers, made of high quality on the doors. In general, not a car, but a music center on wheels.

There are no complaints during the operation. The car is economical, unpretentious in operation, there is a roomy trunk.”

4. Gennady Rastorguev, 38 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2007, mileage - 160 thousand kilometers.

“I bought the car in 2012. The year of manufacture of the purchased Toyota Prius is 2007. The car is made in the USA, which only adds “whists”.

During the operation, I had to change oils, working fluids and make diagnostics of the main systems (more for complacency).

Drove all the time 95 thousand kilometers. The car showed its best side, was unpretentious and did not break down on the road. This is primarily due to the timely replacement technical fluids what I wish for you. Do not forget about the filters (they also need to be changed on time).

After 30 thousand kilometers, I had to change the candles (the engine started).

Real consumption fuel struck to the core. At a speed of 80-90 kilometers per hour, the car showed a result of 2.8 liters per "hundred". Starting the engine in cold weather does not cause problems.

Of the main advantages, it is worth noting reliability, comfort, self-confidence on the road and ease of maintenance.

If you understand the mechanics and electrical parts, then there will be no problems with the car at all.

negative feedback.

1. Gennady Ivanov, 35 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.8 l, automatic transmission, 2010 release, mileage - 130 thousand kilometers.

“Previously, I gave preference only to foreign cars, but I wanted to change the car to some kind of “hybrid” in order to save on fuel. Bought a Toyota Prius in 2010.

At first, there were no complaints about the car, and after each MOT, an engine error began to light up. The masters at the service station explained that the reason was the filling of low-quality fuel, although he tried to pour only expensive fuel.

After a year of operation, fuel consumption jumped - 5.0 to 6.0 liters per "hundred". A year later, the car began to “eat” and did 7.5-8.0 liters.

Recently, the battery failed, and an inscription appeared on the dashboard demanding to check the hybrid system.

When buying, they assured that the power source is eternal, but in practice everything turned out to be not so rosy. The service itself is disgusting - they repair for a long time, you wait for parts for months, and the quality leaves much to be desired.

2. Rodin Osadchy, 33 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 1998 release, mileage - 330 thousand kilometers.

“The car was reliable and unpretentious for the first three years of operation, but after replacing the battery, constant problems began.

First, the elements of the power source flew out one by one, then there were problems with the inverter, then with the hybrid installation. In the end, I had to disassemble and sell everything for parts.

3. Diana Ivanova, 26 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2008 onwards, mileage - 60 thousand kilometers.

“When buying a car, I thought that I would get high-quality transport that would provide comfortable warmth in winter. It turned out that it is warmer in Zhiguli than in Toyota.

Causes criticism and handling of the car. On a bad road, the car strives to be demolished to the side of the road. I had to sell the car after 2 years of operation.

4. Nikolai Lunev, 36 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.8 l, automatic transmission, 2011 onwards, mileage - 40 thousand kilometers.

“In principle, the car is not bad, but the low ground clearance upset me. When traveling to the country, I constantly strike the bottom even when driving the wheel into relatively small pits.

5. Stanislav Gaidashenko, 38 years old. Toyota Prius, 1.5 l, automatic transmission, 2009 onwards, mileage - 40 thousand kilometers.

“The main disadvantage for me was the price. I wanted to buy a hybrid, so I had to get into serious debt. It turned out that the car is not so good.

Noise isolation is not enough, the steering wheel is not informative, there is no fixation of the lever.

If accidentally hurt, you can turn on the neutral gear. The interior is made of cheap plastic, which began to creak almost immediately after the start of operation.

At normal speed (more than “hundreds”), fuel consumption is not so small - almost 7 liters per hundred kilometers.

The battery discharge is fast. To save fuel normally, you should stick to a speed of 70 km / h.

Results

Toyota Prius is a reliable, comfortable and economical vehicle. The main thing during operation is to change consumables in time, monitor the condition of the battery and periodically go to diagnostics in order to fix problems at an early stage.

If you do not start the malfunction, then serious problems will not be in operation. An important point is the quality of the fuel.

Toyota Prius is whimsical to fuel, so it is worth refueling at proven gas stations.

Despite the fact that it is not the first year that electric vehicles occupy best places on the catwalks of international car shows, they are still far from conquering the markets. Until recently, these developments were spurred on by the rapid rise in oil prices, but today the situation has changed, and without legislative pressure from “green” internal combustion engines, it would have remained the only “heart” of a car for a long time.

According to a recent poll on the site, hybrid cars are the most promising in the near future - 41% of voters think so. The second place is shared by traditional internal combustion engines running on gasoline and diesel fuel (17% of the votes each), and electric vehicles are in third place (12%). Our readers do not consider other types of fuel for internal combustion engines to be promising: liquefied and natural gases, as well as ethanol and its mixtures, gained only 3–5% of the votes.

Today, hybrid cars can be found in many countries of the world - from Europe to the New World and Asia. Top Model- Toyota Prius, in 2005, when the second generation of the model appeared, the Americans bought it up at a rate of one car per hour, and today there are more than 1.7 million Prius owners in the world. By 2010, Toyota, the founder of this trend, plans to introduce 10 new hybrid cars to the European market, and by 2020, each Toyota model will be equipped with a hybrid power plant.

However, the hybrid future has already arrived in Russia. Back in 1997, the first petrol-electric Prius appeared on the market of the land of the rising sun (the name is translated as - going ahead). Soon, these cars, along with other Japanese second-hand goods, leaked to the Far East, where they began to master them using the “scientific poke and gaze” method, broke many copies (read - batteries, controllers and electric motors), but tamed the same outlandish car to our climate, and to our roads. Later, hybrid Lexus officially entered the market, but in a completely different status - an expensive and prestigious toy.

And now - the premiere of the third Generation Prius at the Geneva Motor Show, a generation that will officially come to Russia this year for the first time. An economical hybrid car is not cheap today, so we can hardly expect excessive demand, but there is certainly interest - both as a technical novelty and as a product: how long it will last, what it will cost, whether it will be liquid on the market. This review will focus on both the new Prius and the company's hybrid program as a whole.

The basic principle of the new Prius is optimal balance between comfort, driving pleasure and operating costs. It was for the sake of good dynamics that the Japanese did not save on the displacement of the internal combustion engine, increasing it from 1.6 liters (for the previous model) to 1.8 liters. The total power of the hybrid power plant has increased to 134 hp. (by 22%), and increased torque. At the same time, the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine also fell due to the optimization of settings and the redistribution of the main modes in the range of more low speed. And the total consumption on the combined cycle was 3.9 l/100 km, which corresponds to a record low level of emissions for a D-class car - only 89 g of CO2 per kilometer.

The Prius can run either on electric power or ICE, or using both propulsion. At stops, the internal combustion engine switches off automatically (Start&Stop system). Despite the fundamental similarity of the two generations, 90% of the details of the hybrid installation are designed anew. This is a more compact electric motor with more output (due to increased speed), and a new attachments, not requiring drive belt: all nodes are driven by electric motors. Let's add to this a more advanced electronic filling of the power plant control unit: its efficiency has become higher, and the cooling of the components is more efficient due to direct washing with antifreeze. Also appeared and the engine heating system due to the heat of the exhaust gases.

The new contours of the body not only give the model modern look, but also work to improve aerodynamics: Cx decreased by 0.01 and reached 0.25, noise also decreased. Note that at low speeds, when the internal combustion engine is not working, the car is almost silent, which, by the way, is potentially dangerous for pedestrians who are used to focusing on the noise of the engine.

An interesting option is a solar battery in the roof. Usually, drivers try to leave the car in the shade in the summer so that the sun's rays do not heat up the interior. In the Middle East, limousine chauffeurs often leave the engine on at all to keep the cabin pleasantly cool. The interior of the Prius cools down even when idle engine. Roof-mounted elements power a climate system that keeps the cabin cool even under the scorching sun, and the more sun hits the roof, the more free energy they produce.

World sales of the Prius will start in July, the car will appear in Russia in the fall (see below). By 2010, Toyota expects to sell 60,000 Prius in Europe and 400,000 worldwide. Sales plans in Russia, as well as prices, have not yet been announced.

Exclusive interview with Thierry Dombreval, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Europe:

Suppose you are faced with the task of choosing a keyword to launch an advertising campaign for Toyota. Which of the three would you choose to indicate the main advantage of the brand - reliability, affordability or manufacturability?

Probably none of the three...

Then your choice...

Or rather, a little of everything. Reliability is one of the main components of the Toyota brand image. New technologies are also the basis of our development, this is the direction of hybrids, and safety, and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which we see on the example of IQ ... Here our positions are very strong. But today the consumer is thinking. And I would single out brand trust as a key point for the consumer in today's situation. And Toyota is very well positioned in the market, buying such a car is a good investment. Therefore, I would note the trust in reliability and Toyota technologies as the basis of our success.

Today, Toyota, like many other automakers, pays a lot of attention to hybrid technologies. You were the first to put this technology on stream. But there is an opinion, shared by car designers, that hybrids are just a temporary compromise, a stage on the way to electric vehicles. For all their advantages, they have many disadvantages. What is your forecast, perhaps the crisis will scare away a significant part of consumers from these expensive and complex cars, and after a while we will immediately enter the era of electricity?

No, I do not think that an electric car can compete with a hybrid today. Its autonomy is limited to 100-120 km, that is, short trips, mainly in the city, while the mileage of a hybrid car depends only on the capacity of its tank, and gasoline is everywhere. At the moment we are working on an electric FTEV concept based on the Toyota IQ, but it will be a pure city car and not a competitor to hybrids. I think that both approaches will coexist for a long time; hybrids will become a mainstream product, and urban electric vehicles will complete the gamut.

But already today there are cars like Tesla that have an autonomy of up to 300 km, and there are "electric gas stations" that can charge the battery in an hour or two, so perhaps it's just a matter of organizing a network of charging stations and the same technology. Perhaps in two or three years there will be a sufficiently capacious battery to cover three hundred kilometers on a single charge. Or do you still think that in the next ten years this will not become a reality?

All these developments cannot yet be called large-scale. Yes, with batteries mobile phones… How long will they last? Three years, no more.

The developers announced seven.

Well, these are just words. And the cost of replacement, you know ...

Yes, it's scary to imagine!

Today we have lithium-ion batteries, more capacious and lighter, we own advanced technologies, we present the ways of their development and, believe me, before an electric car can travel 300 km, it will be many more years.

A prototype Toyota Prius with a Toyota Plug-in HV hybrid power platform combining a 1.5-liter internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The car received vehicle type approval from the Ministry of Transportation of Japan before being shown at the Paris Motor Show and, after testing on the roads of the USA (California) and Japan, is likely to go on sale. Main characteristics: dimensions (LxWxH) - 4445x1725x1490 mm, seats - 5, internal combustion engine - 110 Nm at 4000 rpm, 56 kW / 76 hp. at 5000 rpm, electric motor - 400 Nm at 0–1200 rpm, 50 kW/68 hp at 1200-1540 rpm electric autonomy - 10 km, max. electric speed - 100 km / h, battery - nickel-hydride, 13 Ah.

Even a year ago, when oil prices were rising, one could assume that sales of fuel-efficient cars would grow at no less pace. Now oil prices have fallen, as have household incomes. Perhaps the market is reorienting towards simpler cars, more affordable, and it would be worth thinking about new technologies to create just such cars?

Today, the European car market has lost 30%, but we notice that the preferences of customers in general have not changed. They don't say "I would buy a simpler car", they still want a reliable, comfortable, economical car. This is the approach of most clients. Of course, there are those who are focused on affordability, but as a rule, these are either the unemployed, or those who are afraid of losing their jobs, or those who have faced problems in lending. But again, they are a minority. In addition, the legislation of many European countries, in particular taxes, encourages the choice of a more economical vehicle. Another trend is downsizing, a reduction in the size of the car. Many people realize they don't need big car. But I don't see any radical changes here.

What part of the market, according to your estimates, can hybrid cars occupy in the coming years, in particular, in the Toyota range?

In the next three years, according to our calculations, the share of hybrids in the range of Toyota products may reach 10%.

Lexus today has this figure - 70%.

How do you assess the European market as a whole?

Look, there are practically no other hybrids, only Honda Insight. We hear so many claims, but try to buy a real car! My prediction is a maximum of 2-3% hybrids.

And what are the forecasts for Russia? Lexus hybrids are already well known here, but I would say that they are bought not so much for the sake of technology, but for the sake of image. And what product will be the hallmark of Toyota hybrids? New Prius?

Yes, it will be a Prius. This year we will gradually bring it to Russian market, in limited volumes, since market conditions are unstable (details in an interview with Ruslan Romanyuk, Development Director model range LLC "Toyota Motor" Note. ed.). It will become a link between our high-tech product and consumers who are attracted by new developments, who value technology and care more about the environment than others. In Russia, this approach is not yet very common. But I think the new Prius will change a lot. There are people in Russia who are open to innovation.

Do you plan special programs, discounts for corporate clients? For example, in Spain, Prius work in a taxi ...

No, we haven't discussed these issues yet. It is important for us to first understand how the market will react, not so much in terms of sales, but in terms of interest in the model. This is the first phase. We are not going to push this model by all means, our task is to establish interaction.

On our website, we conducted a survey about the main disadvantages of electric vehicles. 7% noted a long charge, 21% - limited mileage, 30% - a high price, and the majority - 39% - fear the unreliability of equipment in our conditions. What can you say about the reliability of the new Prius? I heard that these cars have already been tested in Russia. Did you have to change something in the design based on the test results?

The main thing that had to be done was to turn on the heated seats as standard equipment. In Western Europe there is no such need. I also had to adapt the suspension, because Russian roads different from European ones. For the rest, we only stated normal work all systems, including electrics and electronics. Including in cold weather. In addition, in the north of Japan, for example, or in Canada, where the cars were tested, it is also very cold.

But there is not so much salt on the roads.

Salt, chemicals - it's not a problem. All electrics are well protected. We've sold Prius in Canada and Finland, where the roads are also treated with chemicals, and we've had no problems.

How about after-sales service? Are you ready to service and repair Prius in Russia?

When we launched the Prius in Europe, we selected a group of dealers, trained specialists and trusted them to work with this car. Gradually, we expanded this circle, and today all European dealers work with these machines. We are planning the same scheme in Russia.

Do you already have a Prius sales plan in Russia for this year? Ten, one hundred, one thousand?

Yes, there is a plan, but I would not like to announce figures, since the market is very unstable, and making forecasts in these conditions is especially thankless. It's like predicting what the dollar will be against the ruble in three months. I'm almost sure I'm wrong.

Ready to predict, in exchange for your assessment!

- (Laughs.) Not worth it yet, let's wait.

Exclusive Interview with Akihiko Otsuka, Divisional Chief Engineer cars who developed the third generation Prius:

Is the third generation Prius an evolution or a revolution? And if a revolution, then in what?

Oh, this is a difficult question! In general, we follow the former concept. On the one hand, the Prius has already established itself well in the market. On the other hand, it is a fashion product of Toyota. Therefore, we do not want to change the concept while maintaining the image. At the same time, we were faced with the task of significantly improving a number of parameters, such as handling, comfort, and functionality of the car.

On the other hand, there are also revolutionary changes. We have redesigned the hybrid powertrain by 90% using new technologies. First, we have improved the internal combustion engine - the most important part of the hybrid power plant (since all the energy for the movement of the car still comes from this engine, which consumes fuel). Today, the 1.6-liter engine has been replaced by a 1.8-liter engine operating on the Atkinson cycle. You may ask why a larger displacement engine is needed? The fact is that it turns out to be more economical with a quiet mode of movement on the highway due to a lower speed crankshaft. The engine is also equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and an electrically driven coolant pump (there is no drive belt at all). auxiliary units). In addition, the traction motor and generator have become more compact and lighter (by about 20%).

One of the main goals for the new Prius is to reduce fuel consumption. What contribution does the engine make to its solution, and what other components - the body, transmission, new tires, etc.?

The third-generation Prius emits 89g CO2 per kilometer, up from 104g/km for the previous model. Reducing emissions (and fuel consumption) - 14%. Half was achieved by improving the engine, the other half by other changes: aerodynamics, tires with reduced rolling resistance, etc.

Speaking of aerodynamics, you claim that you have managed to significantly improve the drag coefficient (Cx). However, it decreased by only one hundredth: 0.25 versus 0.26 for the previous generation. And how has the midsection (middle section) changed? After all, cars today are getting taller (for greater capacity) and wider (for greater safety)...

Yes you are right. The cross section of the new Prius is slightly larger. But still there is a general gain in aerodynamics, although it is really small.

What is the fuel efficiency for the new Prius?

Oh, another difficult question. I can't name the exact figure, about 45%, taking into account losses in the transmission.

This is a very good indicator! If I'm not mistaken, the transmission of the new Prius is built according to the previous scheme, where the electric motor is used as a clutch. What has changed?

Yes, you are right, the basic principle remains the same. But, for example, the maximum speed of the electric motor has doubled, from 6400 rpm to 13400. This is a payment for its compactness and increased power. Therefore, we had to introduce a planetary gearbox into the circuit.

And how much energy can be recovered during braking?

From 70 to 90% of the power of the electric motor.

The press release says that the inverter power switches and other electronic filling of the hybrid power plant control module received direct liquid cooling. What kind of liquid is used?

It's engine coolant.

Really? Does antifreeze directly wash the microcircuits? Will this lead to failures?

No, everything is quite reliable. We checked!

How does an exhaust heat recovery system work? What is it for?

In winter, the engine warms up to operating temperature much longer. In order for it to reach the optimal mode faster, we installed a heat exchanger in the exhaust system, which transfers the heat of the exhaust gases to the antifreeze.

If I understand correctly, this system only works in cold weather?

Quite right.

And how will other systems work in the conditions of the Russian winter? Have you done cold tests? If yes, at what temperature?

Minus 40 Celsius.

We have both minus 50 and minus 60! And how long will the batteries live in Russian conditions?

As much as a car.

And more specifically? A year, two, five?

Ten. It's quite real. The consumer need not worry about this.

I was surprised that every Prius on display at the show had different tires. Toyo Proxes 215/45R17 87W, Bridgestone Turanza EL400 195/65 91H, ER33, 250 Ecopia. But tires are an important part of fuel efficiency. What tire models will actually be used in the original equipment?

Yes, it is very important for us to use tires with low rolling resistance. For the European market, the following configurations are provided: for 17-inch wheels - Bridgestone, Toyo and Michelin, for 15 inches - exclusively Bridgestone. (They plan to supply Prius to Russia only with 15-inch wheels, but, according to the latest data, in addition to Bridgestone, they will probably be equipped with tires from other manufacturers. Approx. Ed.)

Interview with Ruslan Romanyuk, Toyota Motor Model Line Development Director in Russia:

When will the new Prius appear in Russia?

We are planning for early September.

How hybrid Toyota models adapted to our conditions? Have such works been carried out? How do they differ from European ones?

I will focus on the Prius, it is more interesting in this regard. There were big battles around him, and the result was that we in Russia represent the Prius in maximum configuration. Its buyers are guided by high technology, so LED headlights, an active parking assistance system, and a navigation system are already included in the base. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get a solar roof because this option weakens the rigidity of the body, which is critical on our roads. Due to the same specifics, the car is equipped with only 15-inch wheels (there will be no 17-inch ones).

Have you tested the new Prius in Russia?

A group of engineers came and brought the Prius, which is on sale today. We drove it quite a lot, and based on the results, we decided that it could be sold in Russia.

But economically, this is not the most profitable model for our market. What prompted this decision?

Yes, the volume of sales will be small, but this is not the main thing. The Prius is a very attractive product in terms of image. Behind it are our advanced technologies. It may be expensive, but for the money it will have options that are not on the LS600.

For example?

For example, the active parking assistance system. In Europe, the LS600 has it, but not yet in Russia. And LED headlights, by the way, are also only on the LS600 and Prius so far.

And who will be the buyer of the new Prius?

These are advanced people, certainly well-to-do, but the main thing is that they strive to try something new, fashionable. We have already shown the car to potential buyers, carried out preparatory work.

The main customer - private individuals?

Yes, first we want to bring to the market an expensive version, designed for a private buyer. Subsequently, perhaps, we will sell a more budget model to corporate clients, government agencies.

And what about the service, have you already been trained in Russia?

This process is underway now.

In what volumes will the Prius be sold in Russia?

This will depend on the price. But so far we are talking about hundreds of pieces.

Are Prius Orders Already Accepted?

Will start around August of this year.

What can you say about competitors (Honda Insight), where do you see your advantage?

Honda is more environmentally friendly. Prius is somewhat different. Enough is here powerful engine, the total power of the two engines is 136 hp, due to this the car rides very well. We have a good balance between dynamics and efficiency.

And how is the transport tax paid for these cars, are there any benefits?

Good question. In the PTS of hybrid cars, only the power of the gasoline engine is indicated, and this is logical, because it is the only source of energy, the batteries are charged by the energy of gasoline combustion. But our customs is already starting to ask questions. Although our cars comply with Euro 5, there are certain preferences for them in European countries.

What is the service life batteries on a Prius?

The manufacturer gives them a five-year warranty.

What about the car itself?

Three years.

Will the interservice mileage and maintenance cost change?

No, the mileage has remained the same (10,000 km), the amount of service should not change, the hybrid filling does not need special care.

Are there any problems with the supply of spare parts?

No, there is nothing fundamentally new here.

Prius cars of previous generations are quite well known beyond the Urals (they were brought to us from Japan). Craftsmen have long studied the design and even learned how to restore many nodes of the hybrid filling. And in which regions will the new Prius be sold?

We plan to sell the Prius, like other Toyota models, throughout Russia. Based road conditions initially in larger cities.

The Toyota Verso delivers the best economy in its segment for the 110-140 hp power range. With a 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, this compact MPV has CO2 emissions of 140 g/km.

Can you announce the schedule for bringing new models to the Russian market?

In early April, the Avensis and petrol RX will appear, towards the middle of the year - the updated RAV-4, in the second half of the year - Verso. The latter will be equipped with a CVT gearbox; the MMT box, which was not very popular with customers, will no longer be available. Also, in addition to the 1.8 liter engine, a 1.6 liter will appear, which is almost equal in power to the 1.8.

Will a five- or seven-seater version be sold in Russia?

Both. Our buyers do not yet realize all the advantages of this type of body, and are mainly guided by the price. Although there are options like a roof with a panoramic view, for example.

The Toyota IQ urban compact has already been launched in the series, but still collects a lot of curious looks. However, the main advantages here are hidden in the details. What is the layout alone worth: asymmetrically located seats, a new shape of the backs, an unusually located fuel tank. Thanks to this, three adults and one child are relatively comfortably accommodated in a tiny car. And for a crash test for 5 stars according to EuroNCAP, it’s time to give stars to designers. Ruler power units The small car is represented by two petrol and one diesel engines.

What about the Lexus 450h?

In the middle of the year or a little earlier.

What about UrbanCruiser?

So far, the situation is unclear. European configurations are not very suitable for us. From our point of view, the car is aimed at women, so it should have automatic transmission. In addition, the Russian buyer is waiting here four-wheel drive. This version from gasoline engine also not yet.

Why did it happen? Initially did not count on the Russian market?

No, they didn't count.

Will IQ appear here?

With him, the situation is different. First of all, it is a matter of price. If the market had not faltered in the autumn, IQ would already be sold in Russia. Now, if this happens, it will be very expensive.

With leather interior, xenon headlights?

Certainly. There can be no other! But in general, the car is very interesting, completely different sensations: very sharp control, good dynamics ...

And even crashed into five stars.

Yes, even though it looks impossible!