The baton has now been "officially" passed from one generation to the next.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - May 18, 2009
The all-new 50mpgUS combined 2010 Toyota Prius-III parked proudly in front of its forbearer; the 46 mpg rated 2009 Toyota Prius-II.
Tokyo, Japan – Toyota officially launched its third-generation "Prius" this morning which combines top noitch environmental performance with an improved driving experience.
Included with the third generation Toyota Prius-III is a vastly improved Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD-II) plus improved aerodynamics. Expectations are that the third generation Prius will be purchased by upwards of 10,000 consumers per month within the Japanese Domestic Market.
The third generation Prius (Latin for "To go before") is equipped with the latest Toyota Hybrid System II in one of the cleanest aerodynamic vehicles available on the planet. Together, they allow the all-new Prius to reach an unheard of 89 mpgUS on the Japanese quirky 10-15 and 77 mpgUS on the recently added Japan JC08.
Additionally, the new larger and more fuel efficient 1.8L engine combined with THS-II provides the straight-line performance of a vehicle equipped with a 2.4L engine.
Japanese 2010 Toyota Prius - pricing
| Trim Level | MSRP (USD)* |
| L | $21,537 |
| S | $23,113 |
| S - Touring | $25,739 |
| G | $25,739 |
| G - Touring | $28,366 |
| G – Touring w/ leather | $34,354 |
* Includes Consumption Tax
Since becoming the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle in 1997, the Prius has been sold in more than 40 countries and regions around the world, with cumulative sales having exceeded 1.25 million units as of March 31, 2009. The third-generation Prius will be assembled at Toyota’s sprawling and recently upgraded Tsutsumi and Fujimatsu vehicle production facilities and will be released in stages to more than 80 countries and regions.
For a detailed overview of the Prius’ capabilities and features, see the
CleanMPG Previews the 2010 Toyota Prius-III write-up.
Handicapped passengers enjoy new ease of use
"Welcab is a Prius variant equipped with features to aid people with disabilities. This model includes an all-new Lift-up Front Passenger Seat model that features a seat that slides down and to the outside of the vehicle to facilitate ingress and egress has been added to the lineup.
Four Welcab Friendmatic models have been designed (Types III and IV are scheduled for release in July 2009). Type II and Type IV are equipped with a remote-controlled power driver's seat with a seat-lowering function that facilitates moving to and from a wheelchair. Type III and Type IV are equipped with a device that electrically stows a wheelchair on the roof using a special-purpose remote control.
Threaded Mode
