The Power of Innovation
A senior on the Florida Campus, and chair of their 2009 Auto Show, was recently invited to preview the latest Prius. Here is his review.
As students in Automotive Marketing, we are always seeking the latest and greatest in technology. Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance, Calif. invited my professor and I to attend a special media event to preview the pre-production of the third generation Prius sedan. For Professor Gilbert it was a chance to keep up with the very latest innovation. "Seeing and driving the new Prius gives me unparalleled insight into new technology that I can bring directly into my classes. It also continues a link with Toyota that began in the early 1990s."
Like most people, the words fast, powerful, and sporty do not come to mind when I think of the Toyota Prius. However, what does come to mind is technology, innovation, and fun. The new 2010 Toyota Prius has been completely redesigned to be more than just a car for the environmentally friendly. The Prius has more technology packed into it than most cars we see on the road today. From the rear taillights using L.E.D. bulbs to consume 88% less than regular bulb, to the front mounted radar that controls the distance between you and the car in front of you when the cruise control is set, this car is all about innovation.
When you first walk up to the car, you notice that the body lines have definitely been improved and the car is more appealing. The little hump in the roof has been moved back so it no longer looks like there is a bubble there; it has actually been moved back several inches and blends in where the roof starts sweeping to the back of the car. Looks were only part of the reason for this; doing so allowed for more headroom for the backseat passengers which will be welcomed by any adult that would have to sit in the backseat. Getting back to the body lines, there is a badly needed and more sweeping design in this generation compared to the generation one and two Prius.
One of the most innovative pieces of technology in this car was the ability to drive using only the energy stored in the battery. This means if you are in stop and go traffic and are staying under 25 mph, you won't use any gasoline; the only catch is that you need to make sure you are using the brakes enough to charge the battery since this is how it gets charged. Another option is to have a solar roof which produces energy to circulate air through the passenger cabin. This option keeps the cabin close to the same temperature as the outside on those hot days and the car won't be thirty degrees hotter when you sit down to drive.
This experience has changed my perspective of not only the Prius, but all hybrids. This car is not just for the environmentally friendly, it captures a whole new group of buyers with the innovation that has been developed for this car. We all know that college students are all about their technology and new gadgets, and while the Prius doesn't pack a lot of power it makes up for it in a "techie" factor. Toyota has brought the Prius a long way and I think that this is an amazing vehicle with amazing innovation.
Thank you Toyota U.S.A. n Michael Silow
