Although, from the visual standpoint, nothing much has changed, the PHEV brings with it a 1.8l 97 bhp regular engine, paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. The engine develops 97 bhp, while the electric motor brings an extra 79 bhp. The power for the new Prius comes from a Lithium-ion battery and is enough to help the PHEV reach a top speed of 62 mph (100km/hour) in electric mode.
On a full charge, it can travel as much (or as little, depending on how you look at it) 12.5miles (20km), six miles more than the current generation
The first Prius PHEV will be seen on the streets in early 2010, when about 500 units will be released for testing purposes, with 150 of them to take to Europe, without guaranteeing a long-run production, as Toyota says.
With the possible addition of the PHEV to the Prius range and the recently announced plan to name the entire hybrid line-up Prius, instead of Synergy Drive, the Japanese manufacturer is setting the scene for a very busy 2010.
Ten extra hybrid models are being planned for the near future, to join the already existing 13 hybrid models sold in some 50 countries.
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