2010 Toyota Prius Unveiled in Detroit

The 2010 Toyota Prius has been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.  Can you believe the first Prius came out in 1997? It’s so hot it looks like a Japanese Ninja busted this thing out.  It’s sleek and sexy and quite delecitble.  The main problem I see is that these same Ninjas are still limited by battery technology.  Damn you, Ninjas!  We’re stuck with nickel-metal batteries instead of the improved lithium-ion batteries.  Battery FAIL.  One optional accessory is a solar-powered moon roof which will turn on the ventilation and cool the car on a hot day while it’s parked…and you can have the A/C started with a remote – allowing the A/C to run solely on battery power.  Yay sun.  What else can we expect?

• 50MPG fuel efficiency
• The new Prius will offer three alternative driving modes. EV-Drive Mode allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile, if conditions permit. There is also a Power Mode, which increases sensitivity to throttle input for a sportier feel, and an Eco Mode, which helps the driver achieve their best mileage.
• Next-generation Intelligent Parking Assist features simplified settings to help guide the car into parking spaces.
• Use of an electric water pump and a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system also contribute to the engine’s efficiency. The 1.8-liter Prius engine is the first Toyota power plant that requires no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance.
• The patented Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the 2010 Prius is 90 percent newly-developed with significant improvements over previous models.

Check out the pics and more info over at AutoBlogGreen.