Let it snow; Toyota says new Prius is ready
Toyota is pushing its Prius into new territory — specifically, places where seasonal snow and ice have prevented folks from embracing the popular hybrid sedan.
The 2019 Prius will be offered for the first time in an all-wheel-drive configuration, and the new car will get its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Japanese giant says its new AWD-e system will boost traction needed for driving in winter conditions and will also improve fuel economy. The Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t weighed in yet, but Toyota’s figures put the AWD’s miles per gallon at 52 in the city, 48 on the highway and 50 combined.
That’s below the 52-mpg combined figure claimed by the standard front-wheel-drive Prius, but very high for an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
The new AWD system employs an electric motor, attached to the rear axle, to apply power to the rear wheel on takeoff from a dead stop and any time extra traction is required. This motor stands down when it’s not needed.
The rest of the power comes from the same system used by the other Prius hybrids: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors.
The battery that powers the new rear-wheel electric motor will be parked under the rear seats and will not impinge on luggage capacity.
The AWD model will feature some exterior upgrades, as will the other models, which in a complicated effort to become simpler will all lose their numeric names (One, Two, Three, Four) and be known by their grade levels: L Eco, LE, XLE and Limited. The new model will be offered only in LE and XLE grades.
No word from Toyota when the new Prius will be in dealerships or what it will cost.