IMAGE  CREDITS -Toyota

                                               

Toyota Prius 2006 is a much improved Hybrid car compaired to privesely 2004 prius with significantly improved fuel economy and very less environmental impact. prius a is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in one trim only, the 4-Door Liftback with a standard 1.5-liter,  VVT-i 4-cylinder 110-horsepower  hybrid engine that achieves 60-mpg in the city and 51-mpg on the highway. The 2005 gas/electric Prius with Hybrid Synergy Drive offers amazing fuel economy, an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating 2 and cutting-edge available features like Bluetooth® 3 technology -- all with the performance of a conventional car. Plus, you  never need to plug-in for recharging. And it gets better: Several states now give Prius owners carpool lane privileges. Don't miss that federal tax deduction when buying new Hybrid Prius.                                                             Specifications       Engine                                      VVT-i 4-cylinder, DOHC       Hybrid System Net Power    110 HP (82 Kw)       Gasoline Engine HP    76 HP@ 5000 rpm       Torque    82 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm       Electric Motor HP    67 HP@ 1200-1540 rpm       Torque    295 lb-ft @ 0-1200 rpm       Displacement    1500cc (91 cu. in.)       Weight lb (kg)    2890 (1310)       Acceleration 0-62  mph         --       Top speed     --       Fuel Type    Gasoline - Petrol       Driveline    Front Wheel Drive        Price (approx)    $21,725 Toyota Prius Hybrid History The Toyota Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, was a breakthrough in combining an efficient, powerful gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine and a clean, quiet electric motor. Configured as a stylish, roomy, five-passenger family sedan, the Toyota Prius went on sale in the U.S. in August, 2000 with price tag of only $19,995. Toyota Prius carries an EPA label fuel economy rating of 52 miles per gallon city, and 45 highway, and an SULEV (super ultra low emission vehicle) certification which is about 75 percent cleaner than ULEV and nearly 90 percent cleaner than LEV for smog forming exhaust gases. The technologically advanced Prius is so conscious of air quality that it doesn't even have an ashtray. Prius is offered initially in one trim level, standard equipment on the Toyota Prius includes ABS brakes, climate-control air conditioning, power windows, door locks and mirrors, an AM/FM/cassette stereo system, an eight-year/100,000-mile battery and hybrid system warranty. Toyota Prius also comes with complementary seven-day/24-hour roadside assistance and three-year basic maintenance programs. The 2002 Toyota Prius carried over unchanged with the exception of four new factory options - cruise control, daytime running lights, SRS side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger and DVD-based navigation system. Two new exterior colors were added, Brilliant Blue Pearl and Blue Moon Pearl. The 2004 Toyota Prius was the first Toyota product to employ Hybrid Synergy Drive, the latest in hybrid powertrain technology. The new system produces more power from both the gasoline engine and the electric motor, giving the new Prius acceleration comparable to a 4-cylinder midsize car. Larger and better in every metric of comparison, Prius launched Toyota's second generation of gas/electric hybrid technology and is the first hybrid vehicle available to provide the room, comfort and features of a midsize sedan. Like the original Toyota Hybrid System (THS) employed in the previous model, Hybrid Synergy Drive is defined as a 'full hybrid system.' Unlike competitive systems currently on the market, the full hybrid system is capable of operating in gas or electric modes, as well as a mode that combines the power of the gas engine and electric motor. The 2006 Toyota Prius receives freshened front and rear lamps, advanced airbags, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and four new exterior colors: Magnetic Gray, Barcelona Red, Silver Metallic, and Silver Pine Mica. In addition, a leather-trim interior and steering wheel, rear camera and MP3-media capability and universal mini-jack connector become available. The Toyota Prius is the best-selling gas-electric hybrid in the United States and in the world and it's only gaining in popularity. Toyota sold nearly 54,000 Prius models in the U.S. in 2004 and nearly 105,000 in 2005. The Prius produces almost no pollution and is one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles you can drive.