This week Toyota releases its face-lifted-for 2012 Prius hybrid in South Africa - although, seeing the stronger focus of the design language on the lower section of the front treatment, we're not sure how accurate that is.
Still, only J Clarkson esq would call it a face-drop…
Anyway, a new bumper and a larger lower grille gives the new Prius a lower, wider look - and add 20mm to the car's overall length.
The new, LED headlights have an integrated washer system and the LED daytime running lights have been moved to the bumper, under the indicators, while the foglights move to within the lower grille.
The tail light clusters are new, and there are new aero wheelcaps for the 15” rims.
INTERIOR
Darker materials are used for the dashboard, with silver inserts added to the centre console and air vents, while the hybrid system start button is now backlit in blue.
The front seats are new, with more adjustment, both fore and aft and in height, with partial electric adjustment on the driver's seat. Front seat warmers are standard.
The centre console box now has a built in cupholder that can be used without having to open the lid, while the 12V power socket, USB port and auxiliary audio input terminal have been moved to the front of the box for easier use.
The 2012 Prius is available in South Africa in only one derivative - but it's one with a full list of kit, with a touchscreen system for audio, multimedia connectivity, satellite navigation and Bluetooth plus a rear-view camera.
VOICE RECOGNITION
Advanced traffic pattern intelligence feeds through the latest information on traffic conditions while en route.
It has voice recognition for music search and play, and phone contacts search and call functions.
The head-up display projects key vehicle information on to the base of the windscreen, including vehicle speed, the eco-drive monitor and turn-by-turn navigation information.
Intelligent Park Assist physically helps you park (parallel parking and alley docking) by steering the car into a viable parking space.
But the most impressive of these 'sci-fi' features is a solar panel sunroof that keeps the car cool when parked in the sun by activating the climate control system and forcing fresh air into the cabin.
The new Prius also comes with keyless entry, full leather upholstery, multi-function steering wheel and and an automatic climate control system with a pollen filter.
NUTS AND BOLTS
The body body has been made stiffer by increasing the number of welding spots and reinforcements, allowing softer suspension tuning for improved comfort without wallowing - and, incidentally, improving the driver better steering feedback thanks to a more rigid steering column.
The powertrain is unchanged, however, with a 1.8-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine and an electric motor delivering a claimed 100kW between them, good enough for seamless acceleration (thanks to the standard CVT transmission) from 0-100km/h in 10.seconds.
Also unchanged are Toyota's fuel-consumption claims: 3.9 litres per 100km and 89g/km of CO2, difficult as these may be to reproduce in the real world.
BOTTOM LINE
Prius 1.8 CVT Exclusive - R370 000
That includes a three-year or 100 000km warranty (with an eight-year warranty on the major hybrid power components) and a five-year or 90 000km service plan.
Service intervals are 15 000km.