The Toyota Versatility

Toyota was one of, if not the first main stream manufacturer to mass produce petrol-electric hybrid vehicles. The Toyo Prius set new standards for fuel efficiency and battery powered propulsion, it was the first practical hybrid. The latest generation Prius further enhances its fuel efficiency credentials, as well as being more refined the new Prius has evolved to meet more customer demands. Toyota has decided to create a MPV variant of the Prius, named the Prius v. The “v” stands for versatility, because the MPV styled model offers more space, in fact it offers 50% more load space than the hatch back Prius. The Prius v was unveiled at the American International Auto Show and is due to hit American dealerships in the summer, European release dates have not been confirmed yet. Unlike a used Toyota Celica in Wiltshire the Prius v utilises Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive to produce class leading MPG figures and CO2 output levels. It may be big but the Prius v has not lost any of its fuel efficiency features; it has a low, 0.29 coefficient of drag - thanks mainly to its sleek, rounded and bold exterior design. The trapezoidal front-end treatment features sharp-edged headlamps, wind-slipping aero corners and an enlarged lower air intake for improved aerodynamics and cooling. The highlights of the rear end styling are a smart tailgate and a roof spoiler designed to improve the flow of air away from the back of the vehicle.