If you're like most of us on the road today, you're always looking for a way to save a buck or two at the pump. And for most, this means turning to hybrid models of their favorite vehicle in order to use less gas when traveling. But today, Passport Toyota is here to ask, "what stop there?"
Toyota is debuting a plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota Prius, and it's set to arrive in fourteen select markets this month, with a nation-wide launch coming next year. What differentiates the Prius Plug-In from its liftback twin? Unlike the original Prius, the Prius Plug-In can run in a "pure electric vehicle (EV)" mode. This means that the vehicle uses a lithium-ion battery for power and therefore it is not using gas (yay!), and it's one of the reasons why the EPA took a little longer than usual to give an official estimate for its fuel economy. In this mode, you can drive the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In for a total of eleven miles at a max speed of 62 mph.
Once you hit 11 miles or surpass the 62 mph mark? The Toyota Prius Plug-In simply shifts itself into hybrid mode. When this happens, the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In travels at a rate of 50 mpg combined - roughly the same as the original Prius.
The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In will be available in two models: The Prius Plug-In ($32,000) and Prius Plug-In Advance ($39,525). Both models will feature LED Daytime Running Lights; Smart Key on three doors; Display Audio, with Navigation; Entune?, with an integrated backup camera; Touch Tracer Display; heated front seats; Remote Climate (A/C only); EV/ECO/POWER modes; 15-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels; and an enhanced Multi-information Display.
Meanwhile, the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Advance model gains Premium HDD Navigation with Entune? and JBL® GreenEdge?; Plug-in Hybrid Smartphone Applications, such as Charge Management, Remote Climate, Vehicle Finder, Charging Station Map, and ECO Dashboard; Dynamic Radar Cruise Control; Pre-Collision System; LED headlamps with auto on/off feature and integrated fog lamps; SofTex-trimmed seating; eight-way power adjustable driver's seat; and Safety Connect.
Both models offer the same fuel-saving technology, and let you save on gas in complete comfort.
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