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

Anonymous

I’m a car guy. 4wd Prius? Who cares?! Done with car throttle!!

11/29/2018 - 19:08 |
2 | 26
Phil Drift

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Thank you, bye-bye.

11/30/2018 - 11:21 |
0 | 0
PANDERPONDi

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Bye. You Won’t be missed mate

11/30/2018 - 13:46 |
0 | 0
michal9495

Wait, can it do AWD dunuts?

11/29/2018 - 21:48 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

4wd and awd are different just to inform you. 📣

11/30/2018 - 01:15 |
0 | 0
Basith Penna-Hakkim

Now I can take a Prius to rallycross

11/30/2018 - 02:26 |
2 | 0
Klush

Wouldn’t the Camry have been more appropriate?

11/30/2018 - 10:51 |
0 | 0
Phil Drift

But why?

11/30/2018 - 11:20 |
0 | 0
Subies4Breakfast

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

11/30/2018 - 16:26 |
0 | 0
White Comet

I would not ever chose the Prius over my Subaru to go snowboarding.

11/30/2018 - 17:58 |
0 | 0
NotARealRoadTest

I am a fan of this idea if it steals sales from those dastardly SUVs

11/30/2018 - 21:47 |
0 | 0
Armchair

With AWD, this may actually have a decent 0-60 time

12/02/2018 - 13:58 |
2 | 0