The fourth generation of the Prius has been revealed and will be the first model to be developed on the firm’s Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform – a modular set of components designed to offer quicker, cost-efficient development of new front and rear-wheel-drive models. The Japanese carmaker claims improved handling characteristics for models to be build to be built on this platform, thanks to a lower-mounted powertrain, resulting in a lower centre of gravity. The rear suspension features a double wishbone layout, replacing the current torsion beam layout. Up front, the Prius gets a revised MacPherson set-up.
The Prius borrows styling cues from the fuel-celled Mirai, with the front getting a more dramatic boomerang-like headlights and complex surfacing on the bumper. The blacked-out C-pillar creates a ‘floating-roof effect, with the rear featuring tall LED tail-lights. A spoiler has been incorporated into the hatchback's glass.
The longer front and rear overhangs suggest an increase in overall length of the car. An updated version of the current 1.8-litre petrol powerplant is expected to feature on the new Prius, in combination with a more compact nickel-metal battery-powered electric motor, expected to give the car a combined efficiency of around 32-34kpl, as per Toyota's claim.
The TNGA platform will play a key part in Toyota’s future models, and will offer an improvement in body rigidity by 30-65 percent. The new Prius is expected to go on sale early next year. The arrival of next-gen Prius to India is still unknown.
Dipan Sur
Dhruv Dhaka
Viraaj Bhatnagar
