Prius+: a seven-seater extends the Toyota Prius family

Geneva saw the world premiere of a new Prius family member: the Prius+. This new full hybrid seven-seater model expands the Prius offer but also the appeal of the Toyota full hybrid’s environmental credentials and advanced technology. The Japanese brand becomes the first to combine a full hybrid powertrain with the versatility of a seven-seat vehicle and to offer it to the European customers.

Providing a significant increase in space and passenger accommodation, the Prius+ hasn’t sacrificed any of the main features of the Prius family, for example the lowest fuel consumption of any seven-seater on the market.

Expected to go on sale on the first half of 2012, the Prius+ is not a merely elongated version, of the standard Prius. It has been designed as a new vehicle, with its exterior design representing an evolution of the current Prius.

Design features include an extended roofline with an integral, panoramic sunroof and the iconic Prius triangle silhouette which handles the Prius+ a low Cd 0.29 drag coefficient. At the front the trapezoidal shape has the sharp-edged headlamps, minimizing aero-corners and an enlarged lower grille incorporated in order to improve aerodynamics and engine cooling. At the back the design highlights include the practical, top hinged tailgate, intricate combination lamp clusters and a roof spoiler that improves the air flow.

The latest generation of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive® powertrain has been fitted on the Prius+. The system is powered by the first lithium-ion battery pack to be incorporated within a non-plug-in Toyota full hybrid.

Because it is possible to install underneath the centre console, the compact battery pack doesn’t compromise in any way the seven-seat passenger accommodation or loadspace of the MPV-style interior.

As it happens with all the Prius family members, the Prius+ can be driven in three different drive modes: the EV mode, with an ultra-quiet trip powered only by the electric motor, the ECO mode, which maximises hybrid system efficiency and fuel economy, and finally the POWER mode that boosts system performance.