The car dealers near Santa Ana can’t believe that 20 years ago (2001 to be exact) Toyota took a gamble and released its first and most well-known hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) in the United States, the Prius.
The Prius has now gone on to sell over 1.6 million units and buyers near Santa Ana auto dealers have seen the vehicle through four generations. Now to mark this epic milestone of twenty years of hybrid success, Toyota has launched the 2021 Toyota Prius 2020 Special Edition.
The car dealers near Santa Ana have some explaining to do since the name of the new Prius is very confusing. Why name the vehicle the 2020 Edition when it is for the 2021 model year? Yes, it is no surprise that buyers at car dealers near Santa Ana are confused because it seems everyone is at first.
However, when you learn from the car dealers near Santa Ana that the name has nothing to do with the year “2020”, but actually the number refers to twenty years of the Toyota Prius in the United States, and that only 2,020 units of the Prius Special Edition will be produced the name starts to make a little more sense.
Now that you understand the meaning of the cryptic Prius 2020 Special Edition name, here is more information about the car celebrating a turning point.
What Is Exterior And Interior Features Are Available In The 2021 Toyota Prius 2020 Special Edition?
The 2021 Prius 2020 Special Edition is based on the mid-level XLE trim level of the Prius, which comes very well-appointed, with features such as fully-automatic Bi-LED front headlamps, rain-sensing front windshield wipers, Toyota SofTex (leatherette)-trimmed seating surfaces with dual heated front seats, a Toyota SofTex (leatherette)-wrapped heated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, SofTex (leatherette) interior door panel trim, a smart key access system with touch sensors on three of the Prius’s exterior door handles, a Semi Gloss Black front center console accent panel, and a Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging pad.
The Prius 2020 Special Edition adds some special touches such as Gloss Black exterior accents for the exterior badging, aluminum-alloy wheels, and exterior side mirrors.
The interior of the new Prius doesn’t disappoint either. Inside the car, you can find unique front and rear floor mats with ‘Prius 2020 Edition’ embroidery on the front floor mats and Gloss Black instrument panel and transmission shifter accents.
For those of you who like to have a wide range of color selections when you go car shopper, this is where you may start to frown. The Prius 2020 Special Edition will only be available in Supersonic Red Mica (Red) or Winter Chill Pearl Coat Metallic (Pearl White).
Only 2,020 units of this special edition Priushave been manufactured, and will only be available with front-wheel drive (FWD). Unfortunately, all-wheel drive (AWD) will not be available on the Prius 2020 Special Edition.
What Are The Prius 2020 Special Edition’s Safety Features?
Every 2021 Toyota Prius will come equipped with new features. Firstly, they will receive the newly-standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) System, which, on every Prius trim level, will include advanced safety features, such as a pre-collision system with low-light pedestrian detection, a full-speed range dynamic cruise control system, bicyclist detection, automatic high beams, and road sign assist.
Secondly, all Prius models no matter what trim level they are (except for the top of the range Limited) will come equipped with an updated Toyota Entune 3.0 touchscreen infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
Also, the system consists of Toyota Safety Connect, which is an integrated 4G LTE mobile internet hotspot powered by Verizon, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and HD Radio, and Bluetooth for hands-free calling and wireless stereo audio streaming via A2DP. These are both refreshing editions for all Toyota Prius models.
What is Hybrid Technology
You may have heard of the most famous hybrid of all, the Toyota Prius, but do you know what hybrid technology actually is? To put it in layman’s terms, a ‘hybrid’ is a vehicle that has two or more power sources. Normally, hybrid vehicles use an internal combustion engine that is paired with an electric motor, but the method that these work together can depend largely on the different types of hybrid setup.
If you take a look at the original Prius, Toyota developed a full hybrid system that utilizes two separate powerplants, which is a battery-powered electric motor and a gas-driven combustion engine. Both work together to drive the vehicle or can be used separately. Undoubtedly, it is the most popular hybrid globally.
There is a second type of hybrid referred to as parallel. It utilizes a conventional combustion engine as the main source of power, with an electric motor fitted between the engine and gearbox to help. This package is usually more limited in the way it works compared to a full hybrid, and placing an electric motor into a very small space also restricts the amount of power and electric vehicle (EV) range.
Finally, the third type of hybrid is the series type. This type of vehicle has an electric motor that provides all drive. The normal combustion engine isn’t connected to the transmission, so it rather works as a generator to power the electric motor. The ultimate challenge for a series hybrid is keeping its efficiency when the battery power has been used up. Because of this, series hybrids are hard to come by.
Do I Have To Drive Differently To Benefit From Hybrid Technology?
No, you don’t. Since Toyota has made its hybrid system completely automatic, it will optimize its operation and reduce fuel use for every driver. All you have to do is get into a comfortable seating position, drive and enjoy the ride!
Although the Prius is the most famous Toyota hybrid, the Japanese car company has made many hybrid trim models of its most popular vehicles. When you have a moment, make sure to visit car dealers near Santa Ana particularly Toyota of Orange for a test drive of these stylish, comfortable, and fuel-efficient vehicles.