Toyota races to reclaim top fuel-efficient mark with new Prius that gets 40 km per litre

According to The Asahi Shimbun, Toyota Motor Corp. is gearing up to reclaim bragging rights to the top fuel efficient vehicle with its new fourth-generation Prius hybrid, which can get 40 kilometers per litre.

The new Prius, which will be released in Japan later this year, is more than 20 percent more fuel efficient than the current model, according to Toyota. The automaker rolled out the new model for the media in Las Vegas on 8 Sept.

Toyota intends to tout the automaker’s technology of making eco-friendly cars by offering the most fuel efficient vehicle. The honour is currently held by a rival automaker’s gasoline-powered vehicle and another Toyota HV.

The third-generation Prius model is rated at 32.6 kilometres per litre.

The development of the fourth-generation Prius, which underwent the first full-scale modifications in six and a half years, focused on making a more efficient engine and reducing the weight of the car to achieve the 40-kilometer-per-liter rating.

Currently, the most fuel efficient HV sold in Japan is Toyota’s Aqua, which can travel 37 kilometres per litre. The most fuel efficient gasoline-powered vehicle is Suzuki Motor Corp.’s Alto, which boasts the same kilometres per litre rating.

The fourth-generation Prius, which is larger than both the Aqua and Alto, will outperform these cars in fuel economy, according to Toyota.

Ref: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201509090059

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
http://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/-40-2