Car lovers have something to cheer about in 2005! Recently, Toyota Prius has set a new world land-speed record for hybrid powered cars.
The stylish green Toyota Prius set the mark at 210.49 km/h on the 4.82km short course using a standard Hybrid Synergy Drive power-train — a mixture of 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor.
The lean, green machine will be displayed at the Detroit Motor Show in early January 2005.
Toyota Motorsport’s (USA) engineering group prepared the car by changing the gear ratios (4.32:1 to 3.2:1) and increasing the inverter voltage from 500 to 550 volts. A transmission cooling system was added to decrease the temperature of the inverter and electric motor to maximize efficiency.
The car’s interior was removed to save weight, a roll cage added for safety and the whole car lowered by five inches to improve the aerodynamics for this highly specialized record attempt. Even the 26 in front and 25 in rear tyres were made by Goodyear.
Prius also holds the record as the first hybrid powered car to take part in the FIA-sanctioned event when it ran in the 8046.7 km Midnight Sun to Red Sea Rally in 2002.
