Updated 2019 Toyota Prius brings cleaner design and new tech

Toyota has advanced the styling and technology of its hybrid halo model with the global reveal of an updated Prius at the Los Angeles auto show.

The new Prius brings cleaner, more engaging lines with revised front and rear-end treatments, headlamps, tail-lights, wheel designs and colour choices.

Inside, the cabin’s sensory quality is even more refined with new upholstery along with revisions to the centre console and some of the controls on the instrument panel.

Front-wheel-drive Prius, which is due in Australia in April next year, gains new features including an updated 7-inch multimedia touch screen with the “pinch” and “flick” gestures familiar to smartphone users.

The fourth-generation Prius, launched in March 2016, was the first car equipped with a Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

Revamped styling for the 2019 Prius incorporates sharp, slim headlights with a more swept-back look and bi-beam LEDs that give a wider field of illumination.

A more dynamic silhouette has been created by blending the upper front bumper more smoothly into a flowing line down the sides of the car.

New rear combination lamps mirror the shape of the headlights by introducing a more horizontal look to emphasise the car’s width and low centre of gravity.

A restyled 17-inch alloy wheel features on the high-grade Prius i-Tech while the 15-inch wheel caps come with a new contrast dark-grey finish. Two new exterior paint colours in red and blue are available.

Performance for Prius comes from the combined output of a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two motor/generators through a continuously variable transmission.

The 2ZR-FXE petrol engine, with ultra-low internal friction and efficient combustion, exceeds thermal efficiency of 40 per cent, which is claimed to be among the highest in the world for a petrol engine.

Every new Prius is equipped with seven airbags, reversing camera, vehicle stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, emergency brake signal, hill-start assist and smart entry and start.

Toyota Safety Sense is standard and includes pre-collision safety system, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beam and all-speed active cruise control.

The Prius is also equipped with satellite navigation, a colour head-up display, 15-inch alloy wheels with aerodynamic covers, a 10-speaker JBL audio system and wireless phone charger.

Additional features in today’s Prius i-Tech include 17-inch alloy wheels and leather-accented seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat and front-seat heaters.

Pricing and specification for the 2019 Toyota Prius will be announced closer to local launch.