The first incarnation of the Toyota Prius first appeared to the public in October 1995 at the Tokyo Auto Show as a concept car, but its production version, designated the NHW10 index, did not appear "on dealerships" until December 1997.
Until 2000, inclusive, the car was officially available exclusively in the Japanese market and only then reached other countries, and immediately in a slightly updated form ("NHW11") - with a more powerful power plant and rich equipment.
The hybrid was produced until 2003, when it survived a generational change.
The "first" Toyota Prius is a four-door golf-class sedan with corresponding external dimensions: 4315 mm in length, 1475 mm in height and 1695 mm in width. The vehicle has a wheelbase of 2,550 mm and a ground clearance of 140 mm. The curb weight of the "Japanese" fits in 1240-1254 kg, depending on the version.
Initially, the Prius of the original generation was equipped with a Toyota Hybrid System power plant, which combined a 1.5-liter gasoline engine generating 58 horsepower and 102 Nm of torque, a 40-horsepower electric motor and a planetary transmission connecting them to each other and to the wheels. Its total capacity is 98 "horses". However, after 2001, the potential of the hybrid drive increased to 104 "stallions": the gasoline unit began to produce 70 "stallions" and 111 Nm of peak thrust, and the electric one - 44 "mares".
The first "release" Toyota Prius extends on the front-wheel drive platform "Toyota MC" with independent "hodovka" front and rear: in the first case - McPherson struts, in the second - a four-link system.
The hybrid sedan is equipped with a rack and pinion steering gear equipped with an electric power steering. On the front axle of the car, ventilated "pancakes" of the brake center are involved, and on the rear axle there are simpler "drums" (in the "base" - with ABS).
The advantages of the first generation Prius are: reliable design, comfortable suspension, easy handling, good equipment, roomy interior, excellent dynamics at city speeds, low fuel consumption, good adaptability to severe frosts and much more.
As for the disadvantages of the sedan, among them are: expensive maintenance, low ground clearance and lack of power when overtaking on the highway.
