Guess who is the winner of the whole Dieselgate fiasco that's affecting the Volkswagen Group? You've guessed it - hybrid and electric cars. The all-new 2016 Toyota Prius is arguably the most important hybrid expected to hit the market in the near future. In the United Kingdom, the fourth-gen Prius is on sale, starting at a mere 23,295 pounds sterling.
Hold on a sec - isn't that about £1,300 more over the 2015 model year? You're right, but there's a good reason for the price increase of the world's leading hybrid car. For starters, the design is more fluid than ever, with some styling cues inspired by the red EVA robot from the classic Japanese anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Secondly, the 2016 Toyota Prius is 18 percent more fuel efficient than before, partly thanks to a 1.8-liter internal combustion mill that boasts 97 horsepower (98 PS), 105 lb-ft (142 Nm), and a thermal efficiency of more than 40 percent.
Add a further 71 horsepower (72 PS) and 120 lb-ft (163 Nm) of oomph from the electric motor and there you have it. Oh, and did we mention that the UK-spec Prius is also very well equipped from the get-go?
For the entry-level Activ trim, customers get 15-inch alloys, LED headlights, smart entry, dual-zone climate control, a touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, Road Sign Assist, and adaptive cruise control.
One up to the Business Edition trim (£24,195) and Toyota will also throw in leather on the steering wheel, heated front seats, and a head-up display. The Business Edition Plus trim's (£25,995) most important standard features are the sat-nav system and somewhat sporty 17-inch alloy wheels.
At the other end of the scale, the range-topping 2016 Toyota Prius Excel (pictured in LHD format) starts at £27,450 and adds leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and rain-sensing wipers. According to Toyota UK, the order books for the 2016 Prius are open and first deliveries are slated for March 2016.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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