Auto Show: New Prius Is Still Pious

Toyota unveiled the third-generation hybrid Prius by announcing at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that the car will get 50 miles a gallon in combined city-highway mileage, up from the current 46 m.p.g. The car goes on sale this spring.

From the outside, the Gen-3 Prius looks about the same as its predecessor, which started the hybrid craze when it came to America in 2000. But Toyota moved the peak of the roof line back four inches, adding more interior space.

The gas-electric hybrid engine also gets more horsepower, and thus better acceleration. Toyota says the new Prius will go from zero to 60 miles an hour in 9.8 seconds, down from about 10.5 seconds previously.

The company hopes Prius sales in the U.S. will hit 180,000 cars this year, up from 160,000 in 2008. Toyota execs are keeping mum on pricing until closer to the launch date. But look for a base price in the mid-twenties, slightly above now.

A key compeitor will be the new Honda Insight, which the company will promote as the "most affordable" hybrid in America -- indicating it will be priced below the Prius.

Or is it the Pious? Prius owners revel in wearing their green-credentials on their sleeves. So one thing that won't change will be the nickname, which refers to the owners as well as the car.

by Paul Ingrassia