2004 Toyota Prius
by Gary S. Vasilash

According to Ford Motor Company, upon the unveiling at long last of its Escape Hybrid SUV in New York, the vehicle will go into "low-volume fleet production" by the end of this year and will be in "retail production in the second half of 2004." Toyota Motor Corp., which actually developed the hybrid technology that Ford is using for the Escape, is well ahead of that curve, as it used New York as the venue to introduce its second-generation Toyota Prius electric-gas hybrid, which will arrive in dealerships this fall. The day before press days opened at the New York Show, Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager, told the Automotive Press Association in Detroit that the brand will be offering a hybrid version of its RX 330 crossover SUV by the second half of next year. Clements commented, "Comparing the low-voltage and idle-stop systems proposed by some companies to our new Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Lexus RX is kind of like comparing a high school science project to rocket science."

Clements also noted, "I don't know if you watched the Oscars, but many celebrities shunned their traditional limousines for chauffeur-driven Priuses. And I have a feeling many more celebrities will flock to the RX Hybrid we'll be offering next year."

Or it just may be that those celebrities will choose to drive – not be driven – in the second-generation Prius. Whereas the first generation sedan is somewhat boxy and bland, the '04 Prius is based on what's called a "triangular mono-form shape," one that brings to mind the Honda Insight hybrid. However, unlike the Insight, the Prius is a four-door with a useful cargo area beneath the rear hatch.

Because it is a hybrid, efficiency is everything. The mono-form shape is not only more aesthetically pleasing than the three-box of the current Prius, but the triangular shape contributes to a greatly improved coefficient of drag: 0.26 (versus 0.29 for the previous model), which Toyota claims makes it "one of the most aerodynamic production vehicles on the planet." The '04 Prius is bigger than its predecessor: it is in the EPA midsize class, up from compact. It is based on a new platform. In nearly every dimension, inside and out, the Prius is larger. It has reduced front leg room from 41.2 inches to 40.1 inches, but it has upped the rear legroom from 35.4 inches to 37.2 inches.

Although it is all about fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, the '04 Prius is also about better performance. For example, the electric motor has gone from a 273v/44hp unit to one that's 500v/67hp, which not only means that the vehicle can be driven on electric power only under certain conditions, but the 67hp can supplement the 78hp of the 1.5 liter internal combustion engine, which adds to its ability to accelerate.

Yet driver and passenger amenities are also part of the equation. For example, there are two options – Smart Entry and Smart Start – that automatically unlock the doors when the driver gets close to the handle (assuming that the driver has the key in their pocket or purse) and then permits starting once a button located on the dash is depressed. There is shift-by-wire, so the gearshift level is replaced by a small dash-mounted joystick. ABS, power windows, locks and doors, and A/C are standard.

For those who are looking for an environmental alternative right now, the '04 Prius is the package.

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