The market launch of the new Toyota Prius PHEV in Japan gave us more information about the specs and features of the model which will also be available in Europe and in North America where it uses the Prius Prime moniker. A cool addition to the new generation is the “My Room Mode” which allows owners to use the features of the car when it is parked, sourcing energy from the larger battery.
According to Toyota, this feature lets users “enjoy air conditioning and audio systems” when the vehicle is plugged into an external power source. This means that someone can sleep, rest, browse the internet, work, or even watch a film in the Prius for several hours or even overnight, without running the combustion engine. Furthermore, the system shows if the energy levels deplete faster than charging, meaning that users can balance power consumption and avoid running out of battery juice.
Read: 2023 Toyota Prius Costs From $27,450, Almost $3k More Than Before
Note that the Prius is not the first model to get the “My Room Mode” as it was already available in the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Lexus NX 450h+ making them a fitting vehicle choice for camping or for those who do remote work in charging stations. However, it wasn’t available in the previous-gen Prius Prime, where all the systems had to switch off during charging.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 146 hp (109 kW / 148 PS) with a single electric motor at the front producing 158 hp (118 kW / 160 PS) and a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery which is mounted under the rear seats. The combined output is 220 hp (164 kW / 223 PS), allowing the fastest Prius yet to complete the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint in 6.6 seconds. Besides being significantly more powerful, the new Prius PHEV / Prime has more than double the EV range of its predecessor. More specifically, the WLTC zero-emission range is 87 km (54 miles) when fitted with 19-inch wheels, or up to 105 km (65 miles) with 17-inch wheels.
The JDM-spec Prius PHEV can be visually distinguished from the Prius HEV thanks to the 19-inch aluminum wheels, the metallic silver finish on the lower bumper intake, and the smoky gray taillights. Another cool feature is the optional solar panels on the roof, harnessing the energy of the sun to charge the main and the auxiliary batteries, or power the air-conditioning and other functions. Finally, the new Prius comes with an external power supply mode, turning the vehicle into a power generator for outdoor leisure or emergencies.
In Japan, the Toyota Prius PHEV is priced at ¥4,600,000 ($34,250) in the high-spec Z trim with a long list of standard equipment. The US-spec Toyota Prius Prime is expected to debut shortly, as is the EU-spec model that will be exclusively available in plug-in hybrid form.
H/T to Kuruma News