2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: Pricing, Specs and Availability

Content courtesy of CarsDirect

Toyota’s exciting new Prius Plug-In will be hitting dealership floors soon, and a few more concrete official details have come in by way of a report from Bloomberg News. The Plug-In ditches the standard Toyota Prius’s small nickel-metal hydride battery pack for a beefier, heavier lithium-ion unit, giving the ability to run for around 13 miles on electric power alone. Regenerative braking can recharge the batteries past the capacity necessary to power the car in hybrid form, meaning on some trips drivers should see more than 13 miles of EV-only cruising.

Let’s look at pricing. Toyota’s Jana Hartline confirmed to Bloomberg
the new model will retail for $3,000 to $5,000 more than the standard Prius.
But, a Federal tax credit of “at least $2,500” will apply, Hartline
says, as will state incentives like $1,500 and carpool-lane access in
California. Toyota expects to sell at least 16,000 units in 2012.

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Quick Facts

Engine/Electic Motor: DOHC 16-valve 1.8-liter 4-cylinder/Permanent-magnet electric motor (Combined 134 horsepower)
Transmission: CVT
EV-Only Range: Approx. 13 miles
Post-EV mpg: 51/48/50 city/highway/combined mpg
Charge Time: 3 hours (Standard 110V), 1.5 Hours (240V)
0-60: 11.3 seconds (Standard Prius is 9.8 seconds. Plug-In approx. 330 lbs. heavier)
Base Price: Est. $27,000 before Federal and state incentives
Release Date (Nationwide): “Very early” 2012

So, is the new plug-in worth the extra cash? Voice your opinion at GreenHybrid.com’s Forums!