1997 Toyota Prius Photos, engines & full specs

At the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota introduced a humble-looking concept car that changed the automotive industry forever, and that model came into production shape two years later: it was the Prius.

The Japanese automaker tried to think outside the box when it made the first generation of the Prius. Its engineers thought that adding an electric motor and a battery pack would lower fuel consumption despite increasing the car’s weight, and they were right. However, developing such a revolutionary vehicle in a world dominated by fuel-efficient turbodiesel vehicles was challenging. The automaker had to ensure that its car wouldn’t pass unnoticed, so it gave it a unique look. While its overall design wasn’t praised by anyone, the technology was unique. It redefined the way cars would be made. Even though it wasn’t such a hit among customers, the Prius was a milestone in the automotive industry. Toyota unveiled the production version in December 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

While Toyota spent a lot of money on developing the drivetrain, the car’s design team didn’t seem to receive too much funding. The Prius’ front fascia looked mundane, to say the least. It featured swept-back triangular headlights that flanked a narrow grille, while the hood featured a beak-like center element where the badge took center stage. Lower, the wrapped-around bumper was body-colored and featured an additional air intake that cooled the AC condenser and part of the car’s electronic system.

From its profile, the first generation of the Prius revealed a sedan-shaped bodywork with a slightly sloped-down roof ended by a broad rear window. The car was fitted with 14-inch alloy wheels wrapped in skinny 175/65 tires. On the left side, on the C-post, Toyota installed an air intake that cooled the battery pack placed underneath the rear bench seat. Finally, at the back, a short and sloped down deck ended the car, while the rear fascia had corner-mounted taillights.

Inside, customers were in for a shock. The driver fronted a large steering wheel and a long stick next to it towards the center stack, which served as a gear selector. Toyota placed a digital instrument cluster close to the windshield in the middle of the dashboard. As a result, it was less expensive to make the car either with a left or a right driving post. Atop the center stack, the Prius had a small, 5.8-inch touch-sensitive LCD that showed various information about the driving modes and even navigation for selected markets. The velour upholstery covered the front bucket seats and the rear bench seat. In the cabin, there was enough room for five adults on short jaunts or four for long travels.

Under the hood was a 1.5-liter inline-four engine paired with a CVT gearbox. An electric motor that worked in parallel mode was also mated to the same transmission. As a result, the car could be powered by any or both of them. Furthermore, it allowed customers to recharge the battery pack while driving, recovering a large amount of energy when it braked and using it under acceleration. As a result, the car’s fuel consumption was small. However, the performance was far from what most other sedans in its class could provide.