NYIAS: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime - Eco-Warrior Goes Posh

In the nearly 20 years it’s been on the market, the Toyota Prius has become an icon of eco-friendly motoring. Now, Toyota wants to build on the legend with a new, more upmarket version called Prius Prime. It comes equipped with plug-in charging, but it should be much more than the previous-generation Prius Plug-In. While the Plug-In was basically nothing more than a basic Prius with a larger battery and electric plug, the Prime is supposed to add style and luxury.

From the outside, it’s still evident that the Prime is built on the same bones as the standard Prius, with identical exterior dimensions and similar basic lines, but the details are noticeably different. The front end is much more aggressive, with a blacked-out “grille” area, segmented headlights and teardrop-shaped running and fog lights in the bumper.

In the rear, the huge taillight forms a shape similar to the one on the current generation Charger. Toyota is eager to point out that the new car is no “aero jellybean.” Instead, the car is said to be “daring the wind to stay in its way.”

Overall, the Prime continues in the aggressive direction set up by the 2016 Prius and takes it one step further. Whether this “muscle hybrid” approach will sit well with the traditional Prius customers remains to be seen.

It’s not all just about looks. The Prime receives a new, 8.8 kWh battery pack. That’s twice the size of its predecessor, doubling the range in fully electric mode to 22 miles. According to Toyota, this should be enough to cover the daily commuting needs of more than a half of U.S. drivers. Recharging the batteries will take 5.5 hours via a standard household outlet, or less than half the time from a 240V plug.

Another difference in comparison with the previous generation, or any other hybrid Toyota for that matter, is that the Prius Prime uses a dual-motor drive system where the generator can be used to provide the driving force as well as the main electric motor. This helps the Prius Prime to achieve more agility in full electric mode, moving its electric top speed to 84 miles per hour, and allows it to spend more time in electric drive, even if driving in standard hybrid mode.

The other part of the Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive is once again a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, known from the standard Prius. It’s an Atkinson cycle mill like the standard Prius engine and provides 40-percent thermal efficiency.

The whole drivetrain is said to achieve 120 miles-per-gallon-equivalent in electric mode, whatever that means for real-world consumption. More importantly, the real mpg figures remain the same or slightly better compared with the standard car (54/50 mpg).

Inside, the focal point is the new 11.6-inch infotainment screen with advanced smartphone connection. You can now control the car’s AC from a smartphone, manage its charging schedule, find charging stations, and — of course — compare your eco-driving score with others on social media. The last feature will be undoubtedly loved by everyone driving behind the heroic eco-warriors trying to out-do their Facebook friends.