A Winter-Battling 4WD Toyota Prius Is Coming To The US

Most markets have never seen it but Japan’s four-wheel drive Prius is heading for the US market to add some all-weather practicality to the eco-box
A Winter-Battling 4WD Toyota Prius Is Coming To The US

Steadily decreasing sales of the Prius in the US have led Toyota to take drastic action. The four-wheel drive Prius, previously confined to select markets including Japan, is on its way to North America.

Prius sales have taken a few kicks as buyers relax their hybrid ambitions in the glow of lower fuel prices. Toyota’s research also suggests that in the parts of the US that experience colder winters residents feel that the front-wheel drive Prius just isn’t practical. We and winter tyres would beg to differ, but whatever.

A Winter-Battling 4WD Toyota Prius Is Coming To The US

As such Toyota is introducing the Prius AWD-e four-wheel drive version in the hope of not just stopping the sales slide, but reversing it. Ultimately the firm thinks that it could account for 25 per cent of all Prius sales in the country, despite coming up 8mpg (US) short of its conventional brother, at 50mpg. That’s 60mpg in British imperial measurements.

It’s based on a separately-powered and independently-driven rear axle; essentially a standalone module that can be slotted in on the production line. It can power the rear axle of the self-charging hybrid at up to 43mph – more than fast enough to overcome any traction issues on wet, cold or even snowy days (although see the winter tyres point above).

A Winter-Battling 4WD Toyota Prius Is Coming To The US

A small nickel-metal-hydride battery sits beneath the rear seats. It was chosen specifically for its better performance in cold weather versus lithium-ion. As with the front-driven car, the petrol engine and brake energy recovery recharge the – in this case two – battery packs so that there’s always some electro-juice on tap.

Self-charging hybrids are beginning to fall out of favour. Market trends suggest a swing towards plug-in cars with longer pure-EV driving ranges. Having once achieved over 70mpg in the current Prius, though, on an uphill route from the Spanish plains to a point halfway up a mountain, I don’t always agree. The four-wheel drive Prius goes on sale in US dealerships early next year.

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Comments

Duggan (koalafan) (koalafan7) (Esprit Team) (Z32 Group) (Lot

Finally now when I tune my Prius it will be able to go even faster!

11/29/2018 - 15:03 |
2 | 2
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen

Can it battle the haters though?

11/29/2018 - 15:18 |
6 | 0

Not even car anime can battle that

11/29/2018 - 17:25 |
10 | 0
yowzers

No.

11/29/2018 - 15:27 |
0 | 4
Miata Man (Miata Squad)

how long will it take for some one to make a lift kit for this.

11/29/2018 - 15:33 |
138 | 0

2 hours with X-Tomi

11/29/2018 - 23:09 |
62 | 0
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

When will it ever stop.

11/29/2018 - 15:34 |
2 | 10
675LT_ftw

Just when an awesome little car couldn’t get any better…

Thank you Toyota… Just make it more pretty next time

11/29/2018 - 15:57 |
60 | 4

Awesome little car? I cannot say that was my first thought upon climbing in

11/29/2018 - 22:23 |
4 | 2

I hope you’re joking.

11/29/2018 - 23:51 |
8 | 16

It is awesome, but I am actually looking forward more towards the new Subaru XV Crosstrek Plug-in. It is cheaper (presumably) after the tax credit, can do electric only miles and is a permanent AWD car.

11/30/2018 - 05:23 |
2 | 0
Dutchdirtbiker

Can’t wait for snow drifting video’s

11/29/2018 - 16:09 |
28 | 0
CannedRex24

Wait, a cool prius?

The day has come

11/29/2018 - 16:12 |
44 | 0

The Prius has always been….. C….c…..cool

Runs and hides from all the “real” car guys

11/29/2018 - 16:25 |
38 | 2
Dante Verna

Now we just step up the voltage and install a 6” lift kit

11/29/2018 - 16:18 |
24 | 0

Wires: “Am I a joke to you?”

11/30/2018 - 09:47 |
2 | 0
Daniel Busker

is it just me or did the last generation of the prius fail? i have seen so many of the 2nd and 3rd gen priusses when they released but i can count on one hand how many times i saw the 4th gen.

11/29/2018 - 18:42 |
2 | 0

That’s true. Maybe because they’re a little more expensive than older ones. You can buy an older Prius with low mileage for a very cheap price

11/30/2018 - 03:12 |
2 | 0