The Prius hybrid inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers, evidenced by the muted reaction from owners after Toyota recalled the Prius in March 2010 for a potential problem with uneven braking. The reaction was similar when media frenzy developed a few weeks later after a San Diego man claimed his 2008 Prius sped out of control on California’s Interstate 8. As cooler heads prevailed, the consensus was that “unintended acceleration” was driver error, not a defect.
For the 2011 model year, which began arriving at dealers in late September, there are no significant changes to the car. This third edition of the Prius is bigger and more powerful than the model it replaced. The four-cylinder engine grew in displacement from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters and, combined with a 36Kw electric motor, boosts horsepower from 110 to 134. The result is a reduction in zero-to-60 time by a full second.
Additionally, the body is about four inches longer and about an inch wider. Despite the added power and size, the 2011 Toyota Prius is the only vehicle available today to offer 50 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.
Toyota achieved this level of fuel efficiency by keeping the vehicle’s weight down, maintaining the best aerodynamics of any production vehicle in the world, and re-engineering the powertrain to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving. Clever high-efficiency tricks include an electric water pump, exhaust gas recovery and an optimized regenerative brake system. Underbody covers with splitters aids the aerodynamic efficiency.
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