Toyota Prius
Ten years ago Toyota launched a new kind of car in North America, the Prius with a hybrid gas/electric powertrain.
In the decade that followed, it made an indelible mark on the automotive industry. The car with the signature wedge shape proved to be an agent of change and a catalyst for innovative ideas. More than 1.8 million units have been sold in the world to date, with nearly 900,000 in the U.S. alone.
Those 900,000 have prevented an estimated nine million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and conserved approximately 650 million gallons of gas.
The first Prius came to North America in July of 2000 and I drove it to Gulf Shores for the Fourth with a dash using the metric system. That year, the hit of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the Hummer H2 and national gasoline prices averaged about $1.50 per gallon.
Not all early reviews were flattering. Prius owners, however, felt otherwise.
Today, the Prius is the third-best selling car in the Toyota line and an icon for the company.
Each generation of the Prius has moved the bar higher. With the first-generation compact Prius, buyers got 97 combined horsepower and were told to expect 41 mpg. Ten years later, the mid-size Prius has 134 horsepower and delivers an Environmental Protection Agency rating of 50 mpg overall.
As time went on, the media gained a better understanding of Prius. The editors of Motor Trend magazine, in naming the Prius “2004 Car of the Year,” were “thoroughly impressed with the Prius as not only a technological marvel, but as a truly liveable sedan.”
Today there are nearly 30 hybrid models on the road from 12 brands, with more on the drawing boards.
Are you a fuel-efficient hyper-miler, an eco-warrior or tech-savvy gadget guru? Then test drive the 2010 Prius like we did. The sticker indeed estimated 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway.
With its sharp front and rear corners, Prius offers a sporty, aerodynamic look and an available solar roof, pre-collison system, lane keep assist and intelligent parking assist.
It has come a long way since my drive to Gulf Shores.
Toyota just completed an online contest to find the most passionate Prius fan in the United States. The winner will host the 10 Years of Toyota Prius Anniversary Celebration in his hometown on Oct. 10.
Visit Toyota Prius on Facebook for details.
Published in November 2010
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by Mary Ann
Van Osdell