Auto Expo 2010: Toyota's hybrid Prius to cost over Rs25 lakh in India

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian joint venture arm of Toyota Motor Corp, on Thursday launched the Prius, the world's most popular petrol-electric hybrid car, for the Indian market. It will be priced between Rs26.5 and Rs27.9 lakh, depending on the model.

"Through the launch of Prius, Toyota is keen to demonstrate its commitment to offer the latest eco-friendly automotive technology to its customers in India," Toyota Kirloskar Motor deputy managing director Sandeep Singh told reporters at the 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi.

On display is the third-generation Prius, with a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a 60 kilowatt battery. It will have three driving modes - power mode, eco mode and electric vehicle mode (where it runs entirely on the battery).

Singh said Prius would be imported as a completely built unit (CBU) from Japan. Toyota Kirloskar Motors has ordered 200 units from its parent to be sold during March-December this year, he added.

The Prius became the world's first mass produced hybrid vehicle in 1997. Since then, it has recorded cumulative sales of nearly 1.5 million. As Singh said, Prius is today the world's most successful hybrid.

Unfortunately, an outrageous taxation regime means that the environment-friendly car will cost much more in India than it does internationally.

Hybrids run on an interesting principle – in contrast to conventional vehicles, they give better mileage in stop-and-go city conditions than on open roads. This is because they use the power released by using the brakes to recharge the battery.

Toyota also launched two compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, the Altis and the Innova CNG, as  well as the Camry hybrid, on Thursday.