Toyota Prius Third Generation

When you have the money and need of a car, you should consider the Toyota Prius Third Generation. This version of Prius will be launched in mid-2010 and contains many of the latest advanced technology, not just fuel economy!

A press conference was held at the North American International Auto Show or (NAIAS) held every January at COBO Center in Detroit, Michigan, to attract the interest of the public.

1000 Patents

There are no less than 1000 patents involved in the design/build of the Prius to improve its performance, 292 of the patents come from the United States. No wonder it is an expensive car With all of this patented technology.

The Toyota Prius is the "flagship" car of the future. Over one million people around the world have owned the Toyota Prius over the last 10 years since being launched in 1997. In fact, since the second generation was introduced in 2004, the number of Toyota Prius sold in the United States has reached 670,000 units.

Ecological Plastic

Environmental is the focus in the Toyota Prius recently. Not only are emission friendlier to the environment, but also materials used in the construction of the car as well.  The plastic is made from plants (not oil). In addition to easy recycling, the plastic does not damage the environment.

Atkinson cycle

As the prime source of power, the Toyota Prius uses a 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine (Atkinson cycle). Efforts to create an engine that works more efficiently have been made primarily with mechanical components. Therefore, the radiator pump is driven by electric power and no longer relies on direct energy from the engine. The radiator fan, AC compressor, alternator are operated by the electric motor.  The inverter, electric motor, and transaxle have been reduced in weight by 20 percent.

Weight of the car is also lighter. The engine hood, back door, front axle and suspension caliper are made of aluminum. The result is acceleration from 0-96 km / hour is 9.8 seconds.

3 Modes

This new Toyota Prius offers three alternative driving modes. EV-Mode Drive uses energy from the battery only in low speed for distance around 1.6 km / hour (depending on battery condition). Next is the Power Mode, making the car faster and more responsive to the gas pedal board. Last is the Eco Mode, where fuel consumption is more economical.

Aerodynamics

The Toyota Prius has been tested longer in the wind tunnel than any other car in the history of Toyota. The result is that the aerodynamics is the lowest in the world at this time for mass-produced cars.

Solar Energy

The new Toyota Prius is equipped with a glass moon roof that can use solar cell panels. The solar panel produces electrical energy to power the air ventilation air in the car, even when parked. The Toyota Prius also uses LED lights for the front, rear lights, and brakes.

Sensors and Security

Additional sensors are touch switch on the handlebar, designed to reduce driver eye movement. With this, it is expected that the concentration level for the driver will be higher.

For the air bag, not only is one installed in front of the driver and front passenger, but also for all of the side the doors so that passengers are protected more when a collision occurs at the side of the vehicle.othing to the balloon.

There are also some additional options, namely Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (using millimeter wave radar), Lane Keep Assistant (help drivers stay safe on their lane) and Pre-Collision System (safety belt to work faster and the brakes ready to avoid a collision). Toyota also offers the Intelligent Parking Assist generation driver
that's easy to park in a limited area.

Battery

Although the the third generation Toyota Prius is much more sophisticated, it unfortunately relies on Nickel Metal Hydride (NIMH) for the battery.

What You Need to Know About Hybrids

Many of us don't really think much about our surroundings. In fact most of us would buy a luxury Sport Utility vehicle in a heartbeat if we could.  Although there have been incessant campaigns in global warming many of us don't really pay attention to pollution emitting out of our car's exhaust pipe's. That was until gas prices started to soar and people were desperate for alternatives.  Hybrid technology was new and misunderstood in the past.  Visions of weird boxes on wheels came to mind. That was until the Toyota Prius came out in 1997.

The first hybrid car did not look out of this world or too space age for the common person's taste. It was just a conventional looking car that saved on gas.  The hybrid technology spread slowly. Sales from the Prius and Insight were moderate. Nonetheless, the public supported the technology which led to further improvements. The Ford Escape hybrid filled the gap between looking good and doing well.  It had style and practicality which became the cue for luxury hybrid cars to add to the market.

Although hybrid cars are a good choice for today, is it really worth spending a lot of money to save the environment?   And how do you know which to buy amid the slew of eye candy hybrids?

Why and what hybrid to buy

Hybrids run on electric power through their motors. These motors also serve as generators that recharge batteries on board to power them for mileage. This enables the vehicle to use less fuel which leads to lower costs and reduced emissions. The internal combustion engine serves as a back up for more power at high speeds. A computer determines which and how much power will be used from the motor and the engine.

Hybrids recharge through regenerative breaking. They are perfect for driving in the city where stop and go driving is common.   In the city drivers don't really need a lot of horsepower.

Other motor companies have made hybrids to add to their credentials.  If you really want to be practical a compact four door sedan will do well for you instead of a hybrid SUV that costs twice as much.  Luxury hybrids may do well in the long run by saving gas but spending more than $60,000 on a practical car defeats its purpose.  If you want to go green, go simple.  In reality you don't need to drive a 200 horsepower vehicle.

Johan Young is the author of Johan Young's Guide to Hybrid.