The countdownn to the Los Angeles Auto Show
continues as Toyota has released the first teaser image of the 2019 Prius. Set to be unveiled on November
28th, the updated model will likely be offered with a new all-wheel drive system
in the United States. That remains unconfirmed at this point, but the company
strongly hinted at the possibility by saying the hybrid is “ready for sunshine
or snow.” The automaker also noted “Fall is here, winter’s near, but the 2019
Prius performs on roads whether snowy or clear.”
The decision to offer all-wheel drive on the Prius
isn’t too surprising as the Japanese variant has been available with an E-Four
all-wheel drive system for years. Cars equipped with the system feature an
additional electric motor which sends power to the rear wheels for added
traction.
The system is a US$ 1,706 (¥ 194,400) option in Japan
and it is compact enough that all-wheel drive variants have the same cargo
space as their front-wheel drive counterparts. However, the model is slightly
less efficient as the current Prius E-Four averages 79.9 mpg US (2.9 L/100km /
96 mpg UK) while the standard model is rated at 87.4 mpg US (2.6 L/100km / 105
mpg UK) – according to Japanese specifications.
Getting back to the 2019 Prius, the teaser image
isn’t very revealing but it does confirm the facelifted model will keep its
controversial design. That being said, the car could have a new front fascia
and restyled headlights. The rear end could also be updated with a new bumper
and restyled taillights, but the teaser effectively hides these details.
Performance specifications remain unconfirmed, but
the current model has a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle engine that produces 95 hp and 142 Nm of torque. It is backed up by a hybrid
system which features an electric motor that develops 71 hp and 162 Nm of torque. This setup gives the model a combined output of
121 hp.
