Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

2004+ Prius doesn't have a turtle, so nothing to worry about. ;)

Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

So dumb question ... what years would be considered gen 1 Prius model?

Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

In North America Gen 1 Prius is model year 2000-2003, there's also a model in Japan that was from 1997-1999 but it looks almost the same as the next gen that came here but it's the true first gen Prius. 2004-2006 will be the current 'Prius II' and the next gen will come in 2007.

Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

Actually, 2001-2003 is the first-generation Prius, but yeah, you're right about everything else. Here's a timetable showing the current latest models available, as best I understand:

1997: Prius Jp
1998: Prius Jp
1999: Prius Jp
2000: Insight I
2001: Insight I, Prius I
2002: Insight I, Prius I
2003: Insight I, Prius I, HCH I
2004: Insight I, Prius II, HCH I
2005: Insight I, Prius II, HCH I
2006: Insight I, Prius II, HCH II
2007: Insight I, Prius III, HCH II

Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

The prius is capable of very high speeds although fuel economy will drop. I once got my prius very quickly to 111 mph down hill on rte 257 in Quebec just north of us-canadian border. On level the car tops out at around 101mph. I was told that is because the transistors can only spark back and forth so fast. Anyway fuel economy drops off as you go faster. Recently with my prius I got 52mpg at 65mph and 42mpg around 80mph. By the way, I got my father's 2005 Infinate ratio HCH all the way to 112mph on very slight (1%) grade-then limiter cut in. My 2000 5sp insight I used to have routinely hit the limiter of 113mph on same slight downgrade.

Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

Theoretical top speed is 102 MPH due to the RPM limits for the ICE and MG2. There was a report by someone who tried that speed and reported the engine pulled all the way up to the RPM limiter.

Re: Prius at high speeds?
 

A Prius II was tweaked to run at 130 MPH. They increased the engine max RPMs, plus ran with ice packs on the inverter at 550v and a few other things like lowering, suspension, gear ratios and 25-26 inch tires.

http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage1758.html