Selwyn Times: November 28, 2017

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday November 29 2017 37
Driven
• By Ross Kiddie
I GET the impression we are on
the cusp of a dramatic change in
the way automobiles are built,
well, more specifically, the way
they are powered.
Some manufacturing
companies have already
announced a phase out of the
internal combustion engine while
others are rapidly increasing
development of electric cars.
Add to that the desire by many
governments to increase the
electric vehicle fleet, including
New Zealand, and the stage is set
for an electric revolution.
In New Zealand at present
there are several plug-in, electric
only models in our new car
market, and there are many others
available pre-owned through
direct imports from Japan, and
if you take into account the
multitude of hybrid models
available new, then a definite wind
of change can be felt.
The car that started the hybrid
revolution, Toyota’s Prius, is not
available here new as a plugin,
even though it is marketed
extensively in Japan and the
United States.
However, if you are keen to
join the plug-in brigade, yet find
the cost of buying electric quite
prohibitive, then Toyota may still
have the answer. Toyota New
Zealand is importing pre-owned,
low kilometre Prius models direct
from Japan, they are refurbished
at Toyota’s Thames Signature
Class facility before offered to the
dealer network.
Toyota New Zealand made one
of these available for evaluation,
and the first thing you notice is
that it still has that easy-to-drive
operation that we have come
to know in Prius, it is intuitive
and the hybrid system is still
very much intact, the plug-in
facility is an extra, it’s there to
offer electric-only travel. When
battery energy runs low, the
four-cylinder 1.8-litre petrol
mechanism cuts in to work in
the way that hybrids have now
become familiar.
The hybrid system is a
complex process but, put simply,
the engine and electric motor
work in unison seamlessly
and efficiently, drives is sent
to the front wheels through a
continuously variable automatic
transmission.
Because the evaluation car was
pre-owned I didn’t take stock
of the fuel usage benefits Prius
offers, except to say new Prius is
rated with a 3.4-litre per 100km
(82mpg) combined cycle fuel
usage average.
The plug-in effect wouldn’t
alter that figure, it’s just that by
plugging it in and charging you
are effectively prolonging the
time before petrol power cuts in.
The first thing I noticed about
the Prius in this form is the
soft suspension; unless I’m very
much mistaken, in the Japanese
domestic market spring and
damper rates are softer than
those on Prius sold new here
in New Zealand. That’s not a
big deal, in fact if you look at
Christchurch’s uneven road
surfaces, it has a big benefit in
terms of ride comfort.
There is a bit of a trade-off in the
way the Prius handles, it does lean
a little in a corner but its not in a
way that affects balance, there’s a
lot of weight down low and that
helps stability. And besides, Prius
Local
News
Now
Plug-in Prius takes up electric car challenge
TOYOTA PRIUS PHEV: Pre-owned and refurbished at Toyota’s
Signature Class operation.
• Price – Toyota Prius PHEV,
N/A
• Dimensions – Length,
4540mm; width, 1760mm;
height, 1475mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheel-drive,
1798cc, 90kW, 142Nm,
continuously variable
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 11sec
• Fuel usage – 3.4l/100km
Fire rages, homes at risk
is not engineered for life in the fast
lane, it is a sedate tourer and is far
from a performance car with its
emphasis on low operating costs.
As you would expect for the
Japanese market, the Prius
was brimming with features,
and although it wasn’t leather
trimmed the grey cloth was
refreshing and, of course,
extremely comfortable.
New Zealand buyers have been
served well by the beautifullypresented
models from Toyota
Signature Class operation. I’m a
bit of a fan, as a family we own
a Signature Class Toyota Celica
and it was immaculate when we
bought it.
The Celica is far removed from
the Prius concept, but the point
I’m making is that it shouldn’t
be viewed as a second-hand car.
The evaluation car was showing
just 17,000km and very similar
models are listing for around
$35,000.
That represents a huge saving
against some of the new electriconly
models in today’s market
here. Those who do go down that
track can rest in the knowledge
they are doing their bit for the
environment, along with owning
a reliable and future-friendly
electric vehicle, plus enjoying the
obvious benefits of traditional
hybrid power.
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