The new version of Toyota's hybrid, the Prius, knows how to scimp on fuel - and it can virtually park itself. Nick Winton reports
The new Toyota Prius looks a bit racier than the model it replaces but, when it comes to responsible motoring, it's streets ahead of its time.
The five-seater family saloon is in fact a high technology powerhouse with two engines - one running on petrol, the other on electricity.
The latest Prius boasts another first - it can park itself. The Intelligent Park Assist (IPA) option uses a rear-facing TV camera and computer to help squeeze into a space only one metre longer than the car. According to Toyota, there are currently no plans to offer IPA anywhere but in Japan.
Here's how it works: the driver stops next to the chosen space, indicates on a graphic display the location of the parking spot, then activates the IPA system, releasing the foot brake and steering wheel.
The system doesn't have a radar system to detect problems, such as pedestrians suddenly getting in the way. It relies on the driver to intervene and stop the car.
The new Prius has an improved petrol-electric engine with high efficiency and low emissions. It can produce up to 85 mpg (36kpl), better than both conventional petrol engines and the latest diesel engines. The hybrid engine is designed to use electricity for emission-free city driving and the petrol engine for higher speed use, with the electric motor also providing extra power when more acceleration is required. It generates energy during braking and coasting.
The new Prius is on sale now in Japan, and will probably reach Europe early next year.