Want to change the world – or simply slash fuel costs? Start now. The automotive future is here. The Prius is a feat of modern technology. A revolutionary car fuelled by petrol and electricity. For discerning drivers who want to save the environment – or just save on fuel.

Push Button Start

Prius ignition is the start of a new generation. Instead of a conventional key-start, the Prius gives you a simple, ergonomic push-button start. Your key is just for security. Simply insert it in the keyslot, and press the Start button. In fact, with the i-Tech Option Pack, you don’t even need to take the key out of your pocket. As long as it’s in your possession, simply press Start and you’re driving.

MV Display

The Prius Electro Multi Vision (EMV) display is the future of motoring here today. It's is a 7-inch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) featuring high quality Video Graphics Array (VGA) vision. It gives you user-friendly, touch-panel control of your sound system, A/C, vehicle information, DVD satellite navigation (i-Tech), and Blue-Tooth mobile (i-Tech). Perhaps most importantly, on the i-Tech grade, it's your reversing eyes... The i-Tech features a camera mounted adjacent to the rear number plate. As soon as you engage reverse, it switches on, giving you a clear view of everything behind the car on your EMV display.

Bluetooth Hands-Free System (with i-Tech)

Operate your Bluetooth™ enabled mobile phone safely and conveniently all from your steering wheel. And you can do far more than just dial. You can also access your phone directory, call register, and received calls, number editing, and fast dials are all made via the touch-sensitive screen. You can even send previously registered one-touch tone signals to a recipient while you're talking.

Cruise Control

Cruise freeways and motorways with constant speed control and absolute peace of mind. Prius not only uses a fraction of the fuel of conventional vehicles, it even gives you cruise control so you can worry less and enjoy more!

6 speaker CD system standard

Being environmentally conscious doesn't mean sacrificing your creature comforts. To the contrary, the smooth acceleration and quiet ride of the Prius are the perfect environment for a 6 speaker CD system with the excellent sound reproduction capabilities: Single CD player 6-speaker system 40Wx4 channel amplifier AM/FM radio Steering wheel controls including volume, tuning, mute, mode, and Next/Previous.

MP3 & WMA compatible JBL Premium audio system (i-Tech)

Upgrade to the ultimate audio experience with the i-Tech grade: MP3 & WMA compatibility 6-disc in-dash CD changer 9-speaker system 45Wx4 channel amplifier AM/FM radio Steering wheel controls including volume, tuning, mute, mode, and Next/Previous

Multi-function steering wheel

Enjoy total control of your environment without taking your eyes off the road for a second. The Prius multi-function steering wheel gives you the power to control radio, CD, climate control, telephone (i-Tech), navigation (i-Tech) and information displays. And it's all just a thumb-click away.

Satellite navigation (i-Tech)

Know where you are and know where you're going with pinpoint precision. Prius' DVD satellite navigation system displays your exact location on an on-screen map, and provides voice directions to guide you to your destination. The system was designed for ease-of-use, featuring:

• 7-inch LCD touch screen controls
• Voice guidance in 8 languages
• ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
• Route tracer
• More powerful functions for showing street names and compass directions
• Motorway and freeway modes
• POI (Point of Interest), icon, and brand name searches
• 32,000 colours
• Comprehensive help system for destinations, menus, and switches

*Current mapping ability encompasses major capital and primary road networks as well as offering some coverage in regional areas.

Toyota is committed to vehicle safety. That’s why we established the Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) passive safety assessment programme. First we find the toughest safety standards in the world, then we exceed them.

Rear Reversing Camera

Don't risk the safety of your children (or anyone else's). With the i-Tech grade Prius, you can reverse with confidence and safety thanks to its revolutionary Rear Reversing Camera. The moment you engage reverse, a camera mounted in the rear bumper switches on, giving you a clear view of everything behind the car from your EMV display. It's like eyes in the back of your car!

ABS

Prius features an advanced Anti-skid Braking System (ABS). ABS prevents your wheels from locking up, so you're less likely to skid. A computer sensor monitors your wheels and identifies when a wheel is about to skid. It then releases the brake pressure to that wheel for an instant, then reapplies it. When the wheel is just about to skid again, it releases brake pressure again, and so on. It does this up to 15 times per second. Prius ABS also includes Brake Assist (BA), which helps you apply optimum braking force during an emergency, and Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EDB), which dynamically distributes braking force based on vehicle load.

Dual airbags standard

Save the environment and save yourself! Prius comes standard driver and passenger SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags. Offering two-stage protection, the Prius airbag system monitors the driver's position relative to the dash using a sensor on the seat runner. This ensures that the airbags are deployed at precisely the right speed in the event of a collision. What's more, the i-Tech grade Prius gives you all-round airbag protection, with driver and front passenger side airbags and SRS curtain shield airbags.

Head Impact Protection (HIP)

Toyota's revolutionary Head Impact Protection (HIP) system features energy-absorbing materials throughout the pillar garnish and roof interior. In the unfortunate event of an accident, HIP reduces impact force and helps protect you and your passengers from secondary head and shoulder injuries.

Motor Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)*

Commuter and city driving is fraught with risk. Stop-start traffic, limited visibility, road surface oil build-up, multiple narrow lanes, frequent accidents, road rage… You need a vehicle which allows you to respond to conditions in a heartbeat. When you're accelerating and cornering, you need an unrelenting grip on the road:

• Motor Traction Control (TRC) – TRC uses sensors which automatically apply the brake to any slipping wheel while delivering more power to the wheels with greater traction.
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)* – VSC senses oversteer (tail slide) and understeer (nose pushing forward), and managing the power delivered to each wheel.

* i-Tech grade only

Advanced aerodynamics

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Prius body shape is all about good looks. But in reality, the sleek lines and low slung profile are the product of hundreds of hours in the wind-tunnel, resulting in an aerodynamic finish with a class-leading Co-efficient of Drag equal to 0.26. In English, this means maximised fuel efficiency and enhanced performance and handling in all conditions.

Fog lights

In foggy conditions, commuter driving is at its most perilous. Prius gives you much improved fog vision thanks to fog lights mounted within the bumper, so you can safely and easily negotiate the early-morning and late-night commute.

How it works

The Prius is powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), an innovative combination of petrol and electric power. It delivers low emissions and excellent fuel economy without sacrificing performance.

The Prius is powered by a combination of a conventional petrol engine and an electric motor and battery. The petrol engine is an in-line 4-cylinder 1.5L 16 Valve DOHC engine with VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence), while the electric motor and battery consists of a 201.6V 6.5Ah nickel-metal hydride battery. While it can run on either alone, it is designed to run solely on electricity at low speeds, then on petrol as acceleration increases.

How you recharge

At low speeds, the electric engine gets its power from rechargeable power cells – like very big, very powerful batteries. Whenever you brake or decelerate, the vehicle's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and used to recharge the power cells. Additionally, whenever the petrol engine is running, it keeps the cells at full charge. What's more, the petrol engine powers a generator which provides electricity to run the electric engine, so you don't use your power cells at all.

No gear changes

Prius gives you perfectly smooth acceleration because there are no gear changes. In fact there’s no manual or auto transmission at all! It's called a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The generator provides continuous control of engine revs – when you want to go faster, the electric engine simply runs faster.

Low revs for better petrol efficiency

The 1.5L Prius petrol engine has been specifically designed to perform best at low revs. In fact, the maximum rev rate of the petrol engine is 5000 rpm. This means it can use lighter componentry resulting in better fuel efficiency.

Outstanding Fuel Economy

With fuel consumption at just 4.4 litres / 100km*, refuelling your Prius will be such a rare event that your biggest problem will be remembering to put the fuel cap back on! That’s why Prius comes standard with a convenient cap holder and handy fuel cap tether – so you’ll never leave the cap behind.

* Fuel consumption and emissions tested to ADR81/01 under controlled factory conditions. Actual fuel consumption may vary depending on driving style and conditions