Auto Expo 2016: New Toyota Prius Unveiled in India
car&bike Team
1 min read
Feb 05, 2016, 04:52 PM
The 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid has been unveiled in India at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo, with the car likely to be launched by the end of the year. The all-new Prius, which was globally revealed by Toyota in September 2015, utilises the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) and this platform has resulted in a series of improvements in the car when compared to the outgoing model.
The chassis is now 60% more rigid while the centre of gravity is lower, which has boosted the car's stability, handling, and overall comfort level for the driver and passengers. The change in the suspension setup has a significant effect on the way it drives as well, with a new front suspension and a rear double wishbone suspension.
The powertrain too has been placed lower and all these changes have had a significant change in the way the new Toyota Prius performs. Powering the Prius is the same 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder VVT-i gasoline engine. However, the naturally-aspirated engine has been reworked to improve fuel economy by 18 per cent and thermal efficiency by 40 per cent. The bump in fuel efficiency will mean that the Prius will now be able to return a fuel economy figure of 40Km/l.
The DOHC combustion engine churns out 97bhp and develops a respectable 142Nm of torque. The engineers at Toyota have redesigned the transaxle and the electric motor, which punches out 73bhp, to lower mechanical losses through friction by approximately 20 per cent, thanks to a new multi-axle design.
The Prius comes equipped with a new nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery that now sits beneath the rear seats, which results in a configuration that helps in the weight distribution of the car. The battery is smaller than before, but more durable, and with an increased charging performance.
The trunk capacity too remains at a respectable 502 litres and the auxiliary batteries have been moved from the trunk to the engine compartment.
The car measures 4,540mm in length, 1,760mm in width, 1,470mm in height and 2,700mm in wheelbase. This makes it 60mm longer, 15mm wider and 20mm lower than the previous generation and these changes translate into a more spacious cabin for the passengers as well as more trunk space.
The fourth generation of the Prius is safe too. According to Toyota, it uses a higher proportion of high-tensile strength steel in its construction, making good use of high-strength, lightweight hot-stamp materials to achieve rigidity of 980Mpa and higher. The content of this quality of steel in the vehicle has increased from 3 to 19 per cent. Furthermore, the use of advanced Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) helps to reduce overall weight, improve stability, and provides excellent collision safety performance.
Apart from all of this, the new Toyota Prius is packed with features like lane departure alert, pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beam, etc.
The Prius will be imported into India through the CBU route and is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 38-40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Prius and the Camry Hybrid benefit from the Indian government's FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India) scheme, which helps to lower their price.
The chassis is now 60% more rigid while the centre of gravity is lower, which has boosted the car's stability, handling, and overall comfort level for the driver and passengers. The change in the suspension setup has a significant effect on the way it drives as well, with a new front suspension and a rear double wishbone suspension.
The powertrain too has been placed lower and all these changes have had a significant change in the way the new Toyota Prius performs. Powering the Prius is the same 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder VVT-i gasoline engine. However, the naturally-aspirated engine has been reworked to improve fuel economy by 18 per cent and thermal efficiency by 40 per cent. The bump in fuel efficiency will mean that the Prius will now be able to return a fuel economy figure of 40Km/l.
The DOHC combustion engine churns out 97bhp and develops a respectable 142Nm of torque. The engineers at Toyota have redesigned the transaxle and the electric motor, which punches out 73bhp, to lower mechanical losses through friction by approximately 20 per cent, thanks to a new multi-axle design.
The Prius comes equipped with a new nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery that now sits beneath the rear seats, which results in a configuration that helps in the weight distribution of the car. The battery is smaller than before, but more durable, and with an increased charging performance.
The trunk capacity too remains at a respectable 502 litres and the auxiliary batteries have been moved from the trunk to the engine compartment.
The car measures 4,540mm in length, 1,760mm in width, 1,470mm in height and 2,700mm in wheelbase. This makes it 60mm longer, 15mm wider and 20mm lower than the previous generation and these changes translate into a more spacious cabin for the passengers as well as more trunk space.
The fourth generation of the Prius is safe too. According to Toyota, it uses a higher proportion of high-tensile strength steel in its construction, making good use of high-strength, lightweight hot-stamp materials to achieve rigidity of 980Mpa and higher. The content of this quality of steel in the vehicle has increased from 3 to 19 per cent. Furthermore, the use of advanced Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) helps to reduce overall weight, improve stability, and provides excellent collision safety performance.
Apart from all of this, the new Toyota Prius is packed with features like lane departure alert, pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beam, etc.
The Prius will be imported into India through the CBU route and is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 38-40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Prius and the Camry Hybrid benefit from the Indian government's FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India) scheme, which helps to lower their price.
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
Jaiveer Mehra | Jan 5, 2026Tata Punch Facelift Revealed Ahead Of January 13 LaunchFacelifted Punch gets styling elements inspired by its electric sibling and packs in more tech and a new engine option.1 min read
Carandbike Team | Jan 5, 2026Mahindra XUV 7XO Launch LIVE Updates: Price, Features, Specifications, Images1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jan 5, 2026Volkswagen Reveals Electric Polo Cabin; Previews Future Interior PhilosophyVolkswagen has previewed its next-gen, customer-driven ID. cockpit in the near-production ID. Polo concept, blending intuitive physical controls, recycled materials, one-pedal driving and retro Golf-inspired digital dials.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jan 5, 2026JSW MG Motor India Sells 46,735 Windsor EVs In CY2025; EV Sales Up By 111%The carmaker closed CY2025 with overall growth of 19 per cent, while its EV sales grew by 111 per cent compared to CY2024.2 mins read
car&bike Team | Jan 5, 2026Honda Elevate, City Offered With Discounts Of Up To Rs 1.76 Lakh In Jan 2026The new Amaze is being offered with benefits of up to Rs 60,000.1 min read
Carandbike Team | Jan 5, 2026Yamaha R15 Range Offered With Rs 5,000 DiscountAs part of Yamaha’s 70th anniversary celebrations, the brand has slashed prices for the R15 model range.2 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Jan 3, 2026VLF Mobster 135 300 KM Review: Fun But FlawedA 125 cc scooter with Italian design and Chinese genes is a rare combination, and while some may be tempted to dismiss it because of its origins, the VLF Mobster shows 125s can also be exciting – but not without compromises.1 min read
Preetam Bora | Dec 30, 2025TVS Orbiter Review: Real-World Performance and Range TestedThe TVS Orbiter is a promising electric scooter promising decent range, practicality and pricing. But is there any reason to avoid it? We spent a few days getting to know it better.9 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Dec 24, 2025MG Windsor EV 38 kWh Long-Term Report: IntroductionThe Windsor EV has joined our garage, and before it settles into daily duty, I took it out to get a sense of what living with an electric car is like.4 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Dec 23, 20252026 Kia Seltos Review: Formula Is Spot On, But Is The Timing Right?The 2nd-gen Kia Seltos has arrived, but it has the challenge of facing strong rivals like the Victoris and Sierra. The question is simple - Does it still have what it takes?9 mins read
car&bike Team | Dec 26, 2025Tata Punch EV Long-Term Second Report: Highway Performance, Pros & ConsAfter a week of living with the Tata Punch EV Long Range—including a proper Mumbai-Nashik highway test—we've learned what this little electric SUV is really made of.1 min read