Toyota's all-electric offering, the bZ4X, registered 1,897 units of sales in Q1 2024

Toyota has released the sales figures for the first quarter of 2024. The latest figures show the popularity of Toyota's hybrid models compared to its EVs. The Toyota Prius Hybrid led the charge, registering a 138.6% year-on-year increase - translating to 13,327 units of sales. During the same period in 2023, Toyota sold 5,586 units of the Prius.

Toyota Motor North America registered a 20.3% increase in overall sales. Reports suggest that the growth was driven by models like the RAV4, Corolla, Camry and Prius, all of which, are available as hybrids. Even the Toyota Tundra enjoyed a 31% increase in sales, registering 36,215 units, including its hybrid trims.

Coming to its EVs, Toyota's all-electric offering, the bZ4X, registered 1,897 units of sales in Q1 2024 - which is still an 11.7% increase compared to last year. Its more premium sibling, the Lexus RZ, also brought in 1,603 units in sales - an 18.6% increase.

Source: Motor1

Being a PHEV, Prius customers can sleep, browse the internet, work or watch a movie for several hours or even overnight.

Toyota unveiled its new-generation Prius PHEV late last year. The new Prius comes with a completely revamped exterior design, interior cabin, a new hybrid powertrain and plenty of features and tech.

One such new feature on the new Toyota Prius is its 'My Room Mode', which can be activated by customers when the car is parked and receiving energy from an external power source. According to reports, the new 'My Room Mode' on the Prius allows users to use features like air conditioning or the car's audio systems without having to keep the IC engine running.

Being a PHEV, Prius customers can sleep, browse the internet, work or watch a movie for several hours or even overnight, when the car is plugged into an external charging station. There is also a system in the Prius which displays the energy levels allowing users to keep track of the power consumption levels and avoid running out of battery.

While the feature itself isn't new, it is the first time Toyota has made it available on a Prius. The 'My Room Mode' function is available on models like the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Lexus NX450h+.

The new-gen Prius is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a single electric motor producing a combined output of 220 BHP. The PHEV comes with a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery which offers an EV-only range of 87 km.

Source: CarScoops

If the Toyota Prius GRMN does make it to production, reports put the launch timeline somewhere around Q3 2023 and Q2 2024.

Toyota unveiled the all-new Prius Hybrid late last year.

The fifth-generation Prius Hybrid comes with a completely new design along with a more powerful powertrain. The new-gen Prius AWD comes with a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 220 BHP. It can sprint from 0-98 km/h (0-60 mph) in 7.1 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 185 km/h.

Now, according to reports, the Toyota Prius Hybrid could get a more high-performance version via the brand's GRMN division. The high-performance hybrid sedan could be called the Prius GRMN and is likely to be based on the plug-in Prius Prime variant.

Reports state that with the 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain's tuning potential yet to be determined, there is a possibility that Toyota could use a different plug-in hybrid on the Prius GRMN version. The most likely powertrain for this is said to be the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors, borrowed from the RAV4 and producing 302 BHP.

Apart from the more powerful hybrid unit, the Prius GRMN will also receive strengthened suspension components and added chassis rigidity. The high-performance Toyota Prius will also come with exclusive Gazoo Racing interior elements, highlights and features. The Prius GRMN, however, will continue to be offered with an automatic transmission, missing out on a manual usually offered on all GR models.

If the Toyota Prius GRMN does make it to production, reports put the launch timeline somewhere around Q3 2023 and Q2 2024.

Source: BestCarWeb

The new Toyota Prius Hybrid is scheduled to go on sale in international markets sometime in January 2023.

Toyota unveiled its all-new Prius Hybrid earlier this month. The 2023 Toyota Prius now comes with a completely fresh design, while also featuring a more powerful and fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, compared to the old model.

The Prius now packs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which, combined with the electric motor, offers 194 BHP. The Prius is available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. The AWD versions get an e-motor at the rear, producing an additional 40 BHP.

Now, as per test reports, the 2023 Prius is much quicker and offers better performance than the old model. The new powertrain allows it to accelerate from 0 - 98 km/h (0-60 mph) in 7.1 seconds - this is 3.4 seconds quicker than the older Prius. The car also managed a quarter-mile sprint in 15.5 seconds and has a top speed limited to 185 km/h. The brakes on the 2023 Prius also help it come to a stop from 112 km/h (70 mph) in 171 feet.

Being a hybrid vehicle, the 2023 Prius also claims to offer impressive fuel efficiency figures. The base front-wheel-drive model is said to offer a maximum of 24.23 km/l (57 mpg), while the other AWD versions offer an average of around 22.1 km/l (52 mpg). The fuel efficiency figures are as per the EPA test cycle.

The new Toyota Prius Hybrid is scheduled to go on sale in international markets sometime in January 2023. The car is priced between US$28,545 and US$35,560, depending on the variant selected.

Source: CarAndDriver

The 5th-gen Toyota Prius will go on sale internationally some time next year.

Toyota has taken the wraps off the new-generation Prius sedan.

The new Toyota Prius is now in its fifth-generation iteration and comes with three powertrain options - a plug-in hybrid offered specifically in Europe and two full hybrid powertrains for other markets, including Japan and the USA.

In terms of design, the new Toyota Prius features a more coupe-like styling, in line with the brand's newer models. The hybrid sedan features sleek LED headlamps up front, a full-width LED taillight at the rear and 17-inch wheels as standard, with up to 19-inch offered as optional.

Inside, the 5th-gen Prius comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, SofTex-wrapped steering wheel and front seats with heating function and eight-way power adjustment for the driver. The car also gets a digital key, a power hatch, an eight-speaker JBL audio system, wireless charging, auto-dimming IRVM, front & rear park assist with automatic braking and plenty more.

The European-spec plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 220 BHP. This is paired with a 13.6 kW battery under the rear seats, offering an EV-only range of 90 km. Toyota will also offer a solar roof panel as an option on the European spec models.

The international-spec full-hybrid models come with either a 1.8-litre or a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a strong hybrid powertrain, producing up to 194 BHP. Depending on the trim level, the Prius will also come with Toyota's E-Four AWD technology.

The 5th-gen Toyota Prius will go on sale internationally some time next year. Prices for the same will be announced closer to the date of launch.

The Supreme Court of India has rejected Toyota's plea for exclusive trademark rights over the 'Prius' brand name. 

Toyota has been selling the Prius hybrid in Japan since 1997. The car was launched in UK, Australia and the US in 2000-01. However, Toyota didn't launch the Prius in India until 2010. By then, a Delhi-based auto spare parts maker was operating under the name - Prius Auto Industries. The company had been using the names Prius, Toyota, Toyota Innova and Toyota Device for its products. 

Toyota had filed a case against Prius Auto Industries in a lower court, which ruled in favour of the Japanese carmaker but restrained the auto parts company from using the name Toyota, Toyota Innova and Toyota Devices. However, the court didn't object to the use of 'Prius'. 

Toyota decided to pursue the case further and move the Supreme Court. However, the apex court found that Toyota had not registered the 'Prius' trademark in India till 2010 and neither did it seek cancellation of the trademark registered by Prius Auto Industries in 2002.

On the basis of 'territoriality principle', a bench comprising of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha ruled that for a global brand to claim exclusive rights to a trademark of brand name in India, it must be able to prove that the name had acquired substantial popularity in the Indian market. The bench said that just an article in the local media about the launch of the Prius hybrid in 1997 does not firmly establish the acquisition of goodwill in the Indian market. 

Source: The Economic Times

Toyota has launched the fourth-gen Prius hybrid in India at a price of Rs. 38,96,040 (ex-showroom, Delhi). In India, the Prius will be available only in the top-end Z8 trim level and will be brought into the country through the CBU route.

Powering the new Prius Hybrid is a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that works in tandem with an electric motor. The combined power output of the system is 120 BHP, while the hybrid powertrain has a company-claimed fuel economy figure of 26.27 km/l.

Based on the TNGA (Toyota New Generation Architecture) platform, the fourth-gen Prius gets sharper design cues. The front fascia is characterized by edgy headlamps and fog lights, both of which get LED illumination. The side profile continues to feature a sloping roofline, while the rear gets vertically oriented LED taillights.

Features on offer with the new Prius include leather upholstery, heated front seats, heads-up display and dual-zone climate control. Infotainment duties are handled by a touchscreen system mated to a 10-speaker JBL audio setup. Safety features include seven airbags, ABS, stability control and traction control.

Toyota Motor Corporation has sold over 1 crore hybrid vehicles across the globe. This milestone has been achieved in less than 20 years of the company's first hybrid car launch. The official announcement made by the Japanese manufacturer claims that as of January 31, the cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles stand at 1.005 crore.

Toyota stepped into the Hybrid market in August 1997 with the launch of the Coaster Hybrid EV in Japan. However, the company got its big breakthrough in the segment with the launch of the Prius in December 1997. The Prius became the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle and even after two decades it is still bringing satisfactory sales numbers for the automaker. In 2015, Toyota unveiled the fourth-gen Prius in the international markets, based on Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

Toyota currently sells 34 different hybrid models in over 90 countries across the globe. Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the automaker's Indian arm, had launched the Prius here in 2010 and the Camry Hybrid in 2013. The company had also showcased the new-gen Prius at the 2016 Auto Expo and has now officially launched it in India at Rs. 38.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Toyota will reportedly be launching the new-gen Prius in India next year. The automaker had recently previewed the car at the Toyota Caravan show in New Delhi. It was also showcased earlier at the 2016 Auto Expo in Greater Noida.

Toyota globally revealed the new-gen Prius last year. It is built on the TNGA (Toyota's New Global Architecture) platform. The car is powered by a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder VVT-i petrol engine paired with an electric motor. The company claims a fuel economy figure of around 40 km/l.

The Prius went on sale globally in 1997. The automaker claims to have sold over 3.5 million units of the hybrid worldwide. The previous-generation model has been on sale in India since 2010, but hasn't really attracted a significant number of customers. However, with the Camry Hybrid doing sufficiently well, Toyota is hoping to see a slightly better response for the latest iteration of the Prius.

Source: Car and Bike

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has announced a voluntary recall of their famed hybrid product, the Prius in India. The recall has been issued to fix a probable fault in the retention brackets of curtain airbags equipped in the Prius. It affects 170 units of the Prius Hybrid in India, which have been manufactured between November 2009 and April 2012.

This announcement is a part of a global recall that the Japanese automaker announced yesterday, which affects around 1.4 million units of the Prius and the Lexus CT200h. The carmaker's Indian arm claims that there have been no reported incidents or injuries due to the failure of the affected part here. And thus the company has issued the recall as a preventive measure.

It must be noted here that this particular recall isn't related to the massive Takata airbag recalls that have been dooming the International automotive industry for about a year. Instead, the Prius suffers from a retention bracket fault in the driver and passenger side curtain airbags. The inflators of these airbags might have a crack in the weld, which can separate it from the roof rails in case of an explosion. This can result in the airbag not being fully inflated in the event of an accident, or parts of the inflator being ejected with the airbag, which can prove to be fatal for the occupants.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has further said that its authorized dealerships will soon be contacting the concerned customers to carry forward the recall process. All inspection and replacement of parts will be done free of cost for the owner.

Source: Autocar India