New Prius almost 20 per cent more efficient, claims Toyota

Toyota has announced that the fourth generation Prius comes with an 18 per cent improvement in fuel and emissions performance. Figures show that new technical details have increased performance, producing around 85 MPG and emitting 73 g/km of CO2.

According to Toyota, these improvements are due to a more efficient petrol engine, a smaller and lighter electric powertrain and a new chassis which is both lighter and stiffer than the old version. The Prius will be the first model to be built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which boasts a lower centre of gravity, improved handing and better safety features.

New features include a nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery which has been moved to beneath the rear seats to free up interior space. In addition the load area has increased, making the Prius more practical than previous models.

Further information about the fourth generation Prius will be made available at the Tokyo Motor Show. Toyota has released additional news concerning the company’s fuel cell powered Mirai, which Transport for London (TfL) has announced it will take delivery of.

TfL has embraced the new technology that has gone in to the production of the Mirai and believes early adoption will help expand the country’s hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The announcement was made as part of Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s current trade visit to Japan.

He said: "It is fantastic that London will benefit from these new state-of-the-art hydrogen vehicles. By embracing this technology of the future, we aim to consolidate hydrogen's role as a practical alternative fuel for the 21st century and beyond.

“I am sure that Transport for London will provide the ideal environment for us to see everything Mirai can do and, in doing so, take another great step towards improving air quality in our city and protecting the health of Londoners."

Paul Van der Burgh, Toyota (GB) PLC President and Managing Director, said: “We have been delighted to welcome the Mayor of London to our headquarters in Japan to see for himself Toyota's commitment to sustainable mobility.

“Toyota believes in hydrogen as a key enabler for building a future zero emissions society and we applaud the mayor's commitment to embracing new technology in his mission to make London a leading global city for low-emission, low-carbon transport.”

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