New Prius and the UK market

New Prius will retain its established three-grade range structure in the UK, but with significant improvements in equipment specifications at every level.

At the same time, prices have been pegged at the same level as current Prius for T3 and T Spirit versions. This represents exceptional customer value, given the significant increase in Hybrid Synergy Drive performance and higher equipment specifications including the standard provision on T3 grade of a head-up display, the new Touch Tracer switches, Smart Entry & Start (driver's door), driver's knee airbag heated electrically adjustable door mirrors and front fog lamps.

Likewise T Spirit owners will get much more for their money, with the same additional features as T3 models plus a full Smart Entry & Start system (all doors), HDD navigation and music storage, improved Intelligent Park Assist, rain-sensing wipers and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Sales
Toyota expects new Prius to achieve a high proportion of conquest sales, thanks to the combination of three key areas of customer benefit: total economy, space and style, and effortless drive. The significant advances Toyota has achieved in the new car's powertrain, technology and packaging will also strengthen its market position.

Toyota aims to sell around 4,500 new Prius in 2009 and 7,200 in 2010, its first full year of sales, taking a 5.9 per cent share of the UK D-segment.

Grade structure
Key features of the new T3 model include the head-up display, Touch Tracer switches, seven airbags, automatic air conditioning, Smart Entry (driver's door) & Start, 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and a six-speaker sound system.

The T4 grade provides 17-inch wheels, Smart Entry (all doors) & Start, cruise control, automatic wipers, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker audio package.

At the top of the range, T Spirit models come with a Navigation Pack that includes a Hard Disc Drive satellite navigation system that also provides an on-board music library system. Intelligent Park Assist and rear camera are also part of the package.

Options
Owners of T Spirit models can take advantage of the optional Solar Pack. Featuring a sunroof with integrated solar panels, this allows automatic cooling of the interior while the car is parked. It requires the fitting of 15-inch alloy wheels.

Pricing, VED and insurance
On-the-road prices for new Prius start at £18,370 for the T3 model – the same price as the current model. Likewise, the price of the T Spirit model is unchanged. Thanks to CO2 emissions below 100g/km, the entire range falls within Band A for Vehicle Excise Duty, with no annual road tax charge. Insurance groups are yet to be announced.