The new Toyota Prius lacks progress

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• The Toyota Prius only plays second fiddle
• Visually a shovel
• Even the Dakar legend has a socket
• Where’s a new battery technology??
• And yet the Japanese are one step further
• This is the Toyota range of models

The Toyota Prius only plays second fiddle

From the outside, it looks like the hydrogen car Mirai: the new Toyota Prius

Source: Toyota

Toyota is showing the new Prius at the IAA. But the hybrid model lacks progress. Toyota has long given preference to a different drive technology – and thus a different model.

E.r is a status symbol of the stars: especially in California, the Toyota Prius has become socially acceptable as an eco-car since its premiere in 1997. The hybrid car is also a success worldwide. No manufacturer has sold more part-time electric vehicles than Toyota, and the Japanese manufacturer now has over seven million hybrid vehicles on its books.

But something has changed with the competition. The German manufacturers in particular have woken up and unleashed a veritable firework of products from cars that run on electricity and gasoline – the VW Golf GTE to the Mercedes C 350 e plug-in or even the S-Class with a socket.

Visually a shovel

In other words: the pioneer has lost its unique position and has to reposition itself; the new edition, number four, is approaching. "In every generation we have set new standards in terms of consumption, emissions and efficiency," said the Japanese in the run-up to the IAA premiere of the new Prius. "But the progress has never been as great as with the latest model."

A lot has changed, at least visually. The new Prius is flatter and longer and thus even more streamlined. With its jagged headlights and the idiosyncratic cut-off rear end, it looks a bit like science fiction and is reminiscent of the new technological flagship product from the Japanese, the Mirai fuel cell car.

New ambience: Many of the switching elements are integrated in white plastic shells, as if they were from Apple

Source: Toyota

Toyota has also put new strings on the inside and invested in better materials. Many of the switching elements are integrated into white plastic shells, as if they were from Apple, a large touchpad sits enthroned in the center console, and the screens are finally no longer reminiscent of the first generation of the Playstation.

The manufacturer has only held back with innovations under the sheet metal. Toyota is still behind the scenes with details until the premiere at the IAA. And there is still at least six months until the market launch.

Even the Dakar legend has a socket

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PHEV: This abbreviation is likely to be familiar to more and more people, because the Mitsubishi Outlander is Europe’s best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and in 2015 there was still an over…working on. It will also become a classic as a socket car …

Source: Mitsubishi –

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… Give pajero. In 2017, the off-road vehicle legend – the model won the Dakar Rally twelve times – is to be completely overhauled not only with a powerful diesel but also with the technology of the socket-…Outlanders PHEV go on sale. The new generation of the packhorse will come in a new outfit this year …

Source: Mitsubishi

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… L200 on the market, a classic pick-up. But the draft horse in the manufacturer’s program is that …

Source: sp-x

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… Space star. The small car is Mitsubishi’s best-selling model – alongside the …

Source: Mitsubishi

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… ASX, which belongs to the boom segment of compact SUVs. It will also be available as a plug-in, the new generation is planned for 2016. As a harbinger, both in terms of drive technology and… also regarding the design language …

Source: Mitsubishi

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… The XR-PHEV II study made its appearance at the Geneva Motor Show 2015. In Europe, the model plays a subordinate role in terms of sales figures …

Source: Mitsubishi

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… Lancer, seen here as a Sportback station wagon. The manufacturer is loyal to the series, which has been in production since 1973, in Europe. The next generation can be expected in 2018/2019…n.

Source: Mitsubishi

But after everything you can hear, there are no big leaps. Instead, Toyota managers speak of fine-tuning all components – from the four-cylinder petrol engine to the battery with a little more capacity.

In the official announcement it reads like this: "The Prius accelerates more gently, responds more directly to accelerator pedal movements, is quieter at higher speeds and conveys a linear relationship between speed and engine speed." That does not sound like true innovation.

Where’s a new battery technology??

In addition, it should provide more driving pleasure, especially on long journeys, and consume less fuel. This means that consumption should be well below the four-liter mark.

On the other hand, there is no talk of a modern lithium-ion battery, it still has to be handled by nickel-metal hydride technology. Nobody speaks of a new combustion engine or even a different transmission that finally puts an end to the annoying rubber band effect.

Second favorite child: At Toyota, the Prius is no longer the showpiece when it comes to drive technology

Source: Toyota

And above all, nobody at Toyota mentions the plug-in Prius, which could hold its own against the Golf GTE or the BMW 225xe announced at the IAA. Where socket technology is being rolled out on a broad front, especially by German manufacturers, and enables electrical ranges of well over 20 or 30 kilometers, the new Prius will probably not drive five kilometers without fuel.

And yet the Japanese are one step further

The connector will probably only be available again for an overpriced small series. In this case, a lithium-ion battery ensures a clearly double-digit electric range.

This is the Toyota range of models

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The Aygo is the smallest in the Toyota model range. It is almost identical to the Citroën C1 and the Peugeot 108. The second generation has been on the market since 2014. Offered …the small car is only available as a 1.0 gasoline engine with 69 hp. Starting price: 9,950 euros.

Source: Toyota

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The first generation of the Yaris came on the market in 2011 and was revised again in 2014. The small car is offered in two petrol versions (1.0 with 69 hp and 1.33 with 9…9 PS), as a diesel (1.4 D-4D with 90 PS) and as a hybrid with a total of 100 PS. Starting price for the smallest petrol engine: 11,990 euros.

Source: Toyota

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Toyota has been selling its Corolla again in Germany since 2014. The notchback sedan from Turkish production complements the compact family of the brand at a price of 18,400 euros…he currently consists of the five-door Auris and the Auris station wagon. In the basic version, the four-door is powered by a 99 hp petrol engine.

Source: Toyota

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Three years after the market launch, the Japanese have revised the Auris, their second most popular model in Germany after the Yaris. There is, for example, a completely new one, only… 1.2 liter gasoline engine that wants to shine with 116 hp and an average consumption of 4.7 liters / 100 kilometers. Or the 1.6-liter diesel with 112 hp (4.3 liters) from BMW. However, more than half of all previous Auris buyers have opted for the hybrid model, which is why the combination of 1.8-liter gasoline engine and electric motor has been further refined. Starting price: 15,990 euros for the cheapest petrol hatchback, 17,190 euros for the station wagon called Touring Sports.

Source: Toyota

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The renewed Toyota Avensis celebrated its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early 2015 and has been available from dealers since then at a base price of 23,640 euros. This changes after …the facelift of the mid-range model, which includes optics, engines, comfort and safety equipment, has nothing to do with the price. The station wagon version still costs 1000 euros extra.

Source: Toyota

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The Toyota Verso, which is based on the Avensis, has up to five individual seats in the rear, all of which can be easily lowered into the loading floor. The third row of seats costs 650 euros Au…f price. It is offered with two petrol (132 and 147 hp) and three diesel engines (112, 177 and 150 hp). Starting price for the cheapest gasoline engine: 21,200 euros.

Source: Toyota

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When the first generation of the Prius hit the market in 1997, it was the first mass production model with a built-in hybrid engine. The fourth generation of the hybrid icon is now on de…m market. A 1.8-liter petrol engine with 98 hp and the electric motor with 72 hp work under the hood. The manufacturer specifies the total output as 122 hp. Base model: 28,150 euros.

Source: Toyota

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Toyota calls Prius Plus the more practical variant of its mid-range model. A modified roof layout, more wheelbase and a higher rear create space for a third row of seats…e. That makes the Prius Plus the first seven-seater with hybrid drive. Base price: 31,500 euros.

Source: Toyota

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The Toyota GT86 is identical to the Subaru BRZ. The coupe is powered by a 200 hp two-liter boxer engine. Since May 2015, the GT86 has been in a puristic Basisv…ersion offered. The new “Pure” variant dispenses with standard equipment such as xenon lights, automatic air conditioning and cruise control, but slips in price to 28,900 euros. Compared to the standard model that is still available, this means a saving of 1850 euros.

Source: Toyota

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When the Toyota RAV4 was launched in 1994, it was the pioneer among compact SUVs. The revised fourth model generation is now available. It is either with ei…A diesel with front-wheel drive (143 hp) or with three different all-wheel drive versions. Base price for the front-wheel drive: 27,290 euros. A hybrid variant with 197 hp has also been available since the beginning of 2016. Starting price: 31,990 euros.

Source: Toyota

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Rigid rear axle, ladder frame and differential lock – this is how the Land Cruiser, the off-road classic from Toyota, comes from. It has been built since 1951. Toyota has the site…dewagen equipped with a new diesel engine. The 177 hp 2.8-liter four-cylinder replaces the previously offered 3.0-liter four-cylinder with 190 hp. Another new addition to the range is an optional six-speed automatic which replaces the old five-speed box. The off-roader still has a manual six-speed gearbox as standard. The three-door Land Cruiser is available from 40,240 euros, with five doors from 43,090 euros.

Source: Toyota

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The Toyota Hilux is the best-selling pick-up in the world. The eighth generation was presented in Thailand in spring 2015. The new edition of the bestseller pickup truck is ka…Necessary, modern and homely. The engines are also new. Instead of the familiar 2.5 and 3.0 liter engines, there are now 2.4 and 2.8 liter diesels with performance values ​​between 162 HP and 177 HP, combined with manual and automatic transmissions and optional all-wheel drive technology. The prices are slightly above the previous level, starting at 22,143 euros.

Source: Toyota

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The Toyota Mirai fuel cell car has been on the market since September 2015 at prices starting at 78,540 euros. In Europe, the electric sedan is initially only available in Gro…Great Britain and Denmark offered. The Scandinavian country is rather insignificant as a car market, but has a well-developed network of hydrogen filling stations.

Source: Toyota

The fact that even the brand new generation of the former model saver could look dangerously old compared to the many plug-in hybrids of the competition – the Toyota management is apparently not seriously thinking about that.

Because basically the Japanese are already one step further and use most of their energy to establish the fuel cell through the Mirai. You could see it this way: The pioneer has changed horses.

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