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Hailed in Switzerland as the greenest automobile of the year, the 2007 Prius represents the sixth edition of the car that originally debuted in 2001 as the second hybrid to be offered to the general public. Six years later while we wait for specs on the 2008 Toyota Prius to be released, the 2007 model, which represents the second generation of the design, is still available in two trims: the base model, and the more expensive touring version.

 

Even when it first appeared the Prius had competition. In fact, it was released after Honda's first hybrid, and the head-to-head competition continues to this day. In fact, the Prius has always differed from other makes because the electrical part of the power train is the dominant half. Its electric motor can power the car to a speed of roughly 12 mph, at which point the gas engine seamlessly takes over, and the electric motor becomes a sort of "booster" when additional power is needed. During coasting, or when the car is slowing to a stop, the battery recharges, and the gasoline engine can turn itself off. This is a car that never needs to be plugged in.

 

Specifically, the 2007 version of the Prius has a 76 horsepower, 1.5 liter four cylinder gasoline engine mated to a 50 kilowatt, 500 volt electric motor, and teamed with a continuously variable transmission. It also has anti-lock brakes and traction control standard, with electronic stability control available as an option. Airbags that come standard are side-impact bags for the front seats, and side-curtain bags for both front and back seats.

 

Inside the Prius, there's seating for up to five people, and standard features include power windows, door locks, and mirrors, as well as electric-inverter air conditioning, and a basic AM/FM radio/CD player combination. Optional upgrades add an auxiliary jack to the sound system for mp3 playback, and also include leather seats, and a rearview camera for parking assistance and safer backing up.

 

All of this is wrapped up in a stylish, aerodynamically designed package, of course. In fact, the 2007 Prius has a drag co-efficient of only 0.26, making it one of the most aerodynamic new cars on the market. It's also got a length of 175 inches, a wheelbase of 106.3 inches, and a total of 16.1 cubic feet of cargo volume.

 

The base model comes with fifteen-inch alloy wheels, and the Touring edition has sixteen-inch wheels, as well as a specially tuned suspension, a spoiler dressing up the tail, fog lights, and xenon head lights. Specifications for the 2008 Toyota Prius have not yet been officially released, but it has been announced that there will be a base model and a fancier "Limited edition" model available.

 

As to the big question: will it save money? The answer is yes. The estimated fuel efficiency of 60 mpg in the city and 51 on the highway means that, if driven correctly using proper hybrid driving techniques, the average driver will realize a savings of $600-700/year.