Toyota Prius: Toyota Prius, The Most Fuel-Efficient Midsize Car in America, Adds a Sporty New Touring Edition For 2007

http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases/View?id=TYT2006081787813

Toyota Prius, The Most Fuel-Efficient Midsize Car in America, Adds a
Sporty New Touring Edition For 2007
08/17/2006 Torrance, CA
August 17, 2006 - Torrance, CA - The Toyota Prius, the best-selling
gas-electric hybrid vehicle in the United States and the world, offers
a more engaging driving experience for 2007 with the availability of a
new Touring Edition model. In addition, the 2007 Prius gains standard
driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear
side curtain airbags, which were previously optional.

The new 2007 Prius Touring Edition provides more spirited driving
responses due to its European-tuned suspension and 16-inch alloy
wheels. The Prius Touring Edition is distinguished externally by the
new wheels, a larger rear spoiler, High Intensity Discharge (HID)
headlamps and integrated fog lamps.

Toyota Prius is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in America,
delivering on the promise of exceptional fuel efficiency without
compromising performance, comfort or safety. For 2007, a new Camry
Hybrid joins the Prius and Highlander Hybrid SUV in the Toyota lineup.
Last year, Toyota boosted Prius production to keep up with demand for
this innovative hybrid model.

"Prius was already the most successful hybrid car in the market, and
the rising gasoline prices seen in 2006 have only added to its appeal,"
said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. executive vice president.
"Toyota is the market leader in hybrid vehicles, and we are committed
to expanding this technology."

Prius provides the best fuel efficiency ratings of any midsize car sold
in America, with estimated EPA ratings of 60 mpg in city driving, 51
mpg on the highway and 55 mpg in combined driving. The seemingly
"reversed" city/highway figures reflect the unique powertrain that is
optimized for maximum efficiency in the kind of slow-and-go driving
that urban commuters experience.

Prius achieves its remarkable fuel efficiency while providing the kind
of performance customers expect from a four-cylinder, automatic
transmission midsize car, with zero-to-60 mph acceleration in about 10
seconds.

Dramatic Design, Midsize Roominess and Outstanding Utility
The Prius rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase that allows generous interior
room and a smooth ride. The five-door liftback design not only looks
like nothing else on the road, it is also one of the most aerodynamic
production vehicles in America. Its super-low 0.26 coefficient of drag
(Cd) helps to minimize interior noise and enhance fuel mileage.

With its "monoform" design, the Prius provides 96.2 cubic feet of
passenger room, making it a midsize car. The rear seat in Prius
provides a generous 38.6 inches of legroom. Rear cargo room measures
14.4 cubic feet. The liftback design, combined with the standard 60/40
split fold-down rear seatbacks, gives the Prius outstanding cargo
capacity and flexibility.

Hybrid Synergy Drive
The current Prius was the first Toyota product to employ Hybrid Synergy
Drive, the company's third-generation gas-electric hybrid powertrain
technology. Hybrid Synergy Drive is defined as a "full hybrid system,"
which means it is capable of operating in gas or electric modes, as
well as a mode that combines the power of the gas engine and electric
motor.

In the Prius, Hybrid Synergy Drive combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder
Atkinson Cycle gasoline engine and an electric drive motor. The
gasoline engine produces 76 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque. As on
all other Toyota passenger car engines, Variable Valve Timing with
intelligence (VVT-i) helps to optimize power delivery across the engine
speed range.

The permanent-magnet electric drive motor produces its maximum power of
50 kW (67 horsepower) from 1,200-1,540 RPM, and peak torque of 295
lb.-ft. from 0-1,200 RPM. The Prius produces 110 combined horsepower
with its gas engine and electric motor.

The electronically controlled planetary gear-type continuously variable
transmission does not have fixed gear ratios, but rather provides
infinitely variable ratios in response to driving conditions.

A regenerative braking system further boosts system efficiency: when
the Prius is coasting or the brakes are applied, the electric motor
functions as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that would normally
be lost as heat through the brakes and transforming it into useable
electricity to recharge the batteries.

Driving Prius
One of the most remarkable features of the Toyota Prius is what the
driver does not feel. The computer-controlled powertrain seamlessly
blends power from the gasoline engine, the electric drive motor and the
generator. The driver typically does not feel the vehicle changing
operational modes.

The Prius uses an electronically controlled "by-wire" throttle. A
by-wire shift control replaces the traditional gearshift lever and
allows tap-of-the-finger shifting using a small joystick mounted on the
dash.

The Prius driver can monitor electric-gas power distribution through
the Hybrid Synergy Drive system on the standard seven-inch touch-panel
display monitor. This screen also displays navigation information on
vehicles equipped with the optional navigation system.

The Most Stringent Emissions Certification
The Prius produces over 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than
the average new vehicle. The Prius has been certified as a Super Ultra
Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) in California and those states adopting
California

standards. In the rest of the country, Prius is certified as Tier 2,
Bin 3. In addition, in California and states adopting the California
rules, Prius is certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero
Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). The AT-PZEV certification requires the
SULEV exhaust standard linked with the ability to meet a
zero-fuel-evaporative standard, a 150,000-mile durability
demonstration, extended emissions system warranty, and technology
deemed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to advance future
fuel cell vehicles.

Advanced Safety
Prius is engineered to provide the level of safety that a family car
buyer expects. Passive safety features include front seatbelts with
pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts for all rear
seating positions, advanced dual front airbags, and standard driver and
front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side
curtain airbags.

The driver and passenger advanced dual-stage front airbags inflate
according to collision severity. A front seat passenger sensor is
equipped with an occupant classification system to verify the front
passengers' weight category to determine whether the airbag should
inflate.

An available back-up camera automatically projects an image of what the
lens can detect behind the vehicle onto the dash-mounted LCD display
when the vehicle is in reverse gear.

Prius also features a high level of dynamic driving control. The
standard anti-lock brake system (ABS) integrates Brake Assist and
Electronic Brake-force Distribution. Brake Assist can help apply
maximum braking pressure in an emergency stop.

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is available as an option. VSC helps
keep the vehicle going on its intended course by detecting front-wheel
slide and rear-wheel slide during cornering and attempting to control
either condition with torque intervention and/or by braking individual
wheels.

A standard tire pressure monitoring system can detect a significant
loss in pressure in one or more tires and alert the driver by a warning
light.

Premium Amenities
The Prius offers the amenities expected in the midsize class. Premium
seat fabric and a textured instrument panel center accent the high-tech
interior styling. Prius offers enhanced comfort with the option of
luxurious leather seating (choice of two colors) and a leather-wrapped
steering wheel.

Customers can also order an audio system upgrade that features MP3
capability and a mini-jack port located in the center console. The
mini-jack port enables connectivity by most portable music players and
allows users to listen to their portable music collection through the
audio system.

The standard automatic air conditioning system uses an electric-powered
air compressor. Not only does this improve fuel efficiency, it ensures
passenger comfort even when the car is running only on the electric
motor.

The steering wheel features fingertip controls for both the air
conditioning and the six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system. A rear window
intermittent wiper, cabin air filtration, cruise control, heated side
mirrors, power windows and door locks and remote keyless entry are all
standard on the Prius.

The high efficiency of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive enables Prius to
offer a wide array of comfort and convenience options. Available
options include an auto-dimming rear view mirror, anti-theft system,
fog lights, garage door opener, high-intensity discharge (HID)
headlights, voice-activated navigation system and a JBL Premium AM/FM
six-disc in-dash CD changer audio system with satellite radio
capability and nine speakers.

The optional JBL audio system integrates Bluetooth® technology, which
provides a hands-free communication system. Cellular phones with
built-in Bluetooth® compatibility allow the driver and passengers to
make and receive hands-free calls. A call can be dialed by using the
multi-information display screen's keypad, and incoming calls can be
answered and ended by pushing a button located on the steering wheel.

When a call comes in, the audio system is automatically muted, so the
driver or passenger does not have to fumble with radio controls. The
Prius stereo speakers act as the phone receiver and transmitter.

With the optional Smart Key, the driver carries a light, compact key
fob. When the driver pulls the exterior door handle, an on-board sensor
recognizes the signal from a key in his pocket and automatically
unlocks the doors. Having been security-cleared, the driver merely
pushes a "power" button located on the dash, presses the brake pedal,
taps the gear-selector and drives away.

Long Warranty Protection
Toyota's 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all
components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional
60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against
corrosion with no mileage limitation. The hybrid-related components,
including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module
and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

On Tue, 22 Aug 2006 08:56:06 -0500, richard schumacher
<net> wrote:
 

Like you just did. Thanks for the support, Dick.