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.