Toyota's Prius Prime might really be the best Prius yet
NEW YORK — Toyota pulled the covers off another new Prius Wednesday morning at the 2016 New York Auto Show.
Toyota calls it the best Prius yet — and gave it a name to match. It's called Prius Prime. And, according to Toyota, Prime means best.
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Self-aggrandizement aside, the Prime might indeed be the best. Not only does it boast an 11.3-inch touchscreen in its dashboard, but it also claims a 22-mile all-electric range and a hybrid range of over 600 miles per tank of gasoline.
Distinguishing it further from the regular Prius, the Prime's onboard battery pack can be recharged in five and a half hours on a standard wall outlet and in less than half that time on a 240-volt outlet.
Image: Toyota
Along with a very efficient 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and some onboard batteries, the Prius Prime also has a very aerodynamic — and wind-friendly — body. It's also lower and wider than the previous plug-in Prius.
It also uses lightweight components to aide its efficiency. The hood, for example, is formed from aluminum and the rear hatch is made of carbon fiber.
Although the interior seats only four, they're privy to the new touchscreen in the dash, which is exclusive to the Prius Prime. Along with a multimedia screen comes a suite of Prius Prime Apps. These include the ability to manage and schedule charging as well as compare "eco-friendly driving scores" on social media.
If you want to see the new Prius Prime in person, you'll have to make your way down to the New York Auto Show, which runs March 25 through April 3. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for the Prime to hit showrooms this fall.
