The 2016 Toyota Prius is the sibling of the Mirai, but the bestselling hybrid does not really look like the latter and it does not even borrow design elements from its hydrogen-powered kin. What's really striking about the new Prius is its eye-grabbing exterior that is said to be inspired by a runner who is about to start a race.
Since news that the Aichi, Japan-headquartered automotive manufacturer is releasing an upgrade to its successful Prius line, the rumor mill has been pretty busy with many car lovers giving their two cents on what the new hybrid should offer. And on Tuesday evening, the speculations have materialized when Toyota unveiled the 2016 Toyota Prius in Las Vegas.
The new Prius is longer than its predecessor by 2.4 inches and it is wider and lower by 0.6 inches and 0.8 inches, respectively. The slightly larger frame was very ideal because of the modification in the exterior of the car that is reportedly "inspired by a runner in the starting blocks," AutoBlog has learned.
The hybrid's newest iteration has a sporty design that exudes the vibe of forward motion. However, Toyota has kept silent about the exact MPG of the car, only hinting that it has a 10 percent gain on "core models." If anything, this would mean car buyers would expect an MPG rating of 55 for the new vehicle. AutoBlog's Sebastian Blanco even surmised that the 2016 Toyota Prius could have a 56 MPG in the city, 53 MPG on the highway and a combined MPG of 55.
Toyota has also boosted its safety feature with Safety Sense that is basically a suite providing assistance to the driver whenever there's a pedestrian nearby, when the car has departed from a lane without using signal lights, plus prevention and adaptive cruise control, as reported by CarScoops.
The arrival of the 2016 Toyota Prius comes at a time when the car marketplace has become very crowded, with TrueCar Vice President Eric Lyman saying, "Competition in the alternative-fuel space is fiercer than ever. There are several new models in the marketplace since the last Prius launch, including the Ford C-Max and Honda Accord plug-ins. The second-generation (Chevrolet) Volt comes out later this year, as will the Audi e-tron, and Tesla has become a force in electric vehicles. With the competitive set expanding and gas prices staying low, it will be tougher for the fourth-generation Prius to make the splash its predecessors did."
Pricing for the 2016 Prius is expected to remain in the $25,000 range, Detroit Free Press has learned.
