Refreshed Toyota Prius Launches in Europe

The revised Prius launched in the US last year, and it will go on sale in Europe this spring with the Prius Plug-in and Prius+ (Prius V in the US) coming later in the summer. 

The exterior of the refreshed Prius is slightly changed. The headlights are now all clear doing away with amber turn signals, and there are LED running lights mounted in the vertical slats on either side of the grill. The fog lights have been moved inward into the lower grill. Indicator lights are now incorporated into the door mirrors. The tail lights have also been redesigned. Toyota is also offering new 15in and 17in wheels.

Inside, Toyota has given buyers some big upgrades. There is now a standard 6.1in multi-information display with a touch screen. It incorporates the radio, Bluetooth connection and navigation. Toyota is offering a new black interior with silver trim on the air vents and center console. The center console has also been redesigned with an integrated cup holder and USB and AUX connections inside console. The upper multi-information display is brighter, and the Intelligent Parking Assist has been upgraded to be faster and more accurate. 

Toyota says that it has stiffened the refreshed Prius's chassis by adding extra welding. In stiffening it, Toyota has softened the suspension to give a more pliant ride. Toyota also added more sound deadening to make the interior quieter. 

The refreshed car will be available in the first quarter of 2012.