Filed under: Prius Accessories
2012 Toyota Prius V
Toyota listened to customer feedback and built a larger Prius. The 2012 Toyota Prius V adds room in the passenger cabin as well as the cargo area, while offering the same performance as the hybrid that you have all come to love. Just like the previous incarnations of the Toyota Prius, the ride, handling, and fuel efficiency of your Prius V can be improved with a few after market modifications.
All three: ride, handling, and fuel efficiency; can be addressed by adding sway bars to your 2012 Toyota Prius V. Front and rear sway bars are made of high carbon content steel for rigidity and longevity, then powder coated for additional weatherization. These bars add rigidity to the chassis, which reduces chassis flex and reduces body lean during turns and lane changes. The reductions in sway and chassis flex allow you to have better steering wheel response and traction. When the car is able to hold the road more easily, the engine does not work as hard, thus saving fuel.
Adding a set of front and rear sway bars to your 2012 Toyota Prius V will not boost fuel efficiency over 60 mpg or make your car handle like a Ferrari, but will give you a crisper response and could realistically add 1-2 mpg.
December 20, 2011
Concept of 300 hp Toyota Prius
When was the last time anyone promoted the
Toyota Prius as anything other than an Earth friendly gas miser? Can’t remember? That’s because it has never happened before. The whole world is abuzz with the news that Toyota will be entering the SuperGT GT300 series with a Prius based race car instead of using the more logical GT 86 platform.
The planned 300 horsepower Prius will replace the current Toyota Corolla Axio that is running in the GT300 series. Toyota is expected to make its formal announcement in January of 2012. As of now, there have been no details released about the powerplant and drivetrain. Given that the stock Prius is known for its less than blazing 98 horsepower engine, it is easy to understand how extensive the makeover is going to have to be.
The Toyota Prius will not be the only hybrid vehicle running in the GT300 class. Honda announced its intention to field a CR-Z Sports Hybrid. 2012 maybe the year that hybrid vehicles stop having a negative connotation when performance junkies talk and race fans begin to show some due respect.
December 8, 2011
Yeah, it’s just Thanksgiving, but Black Friday is tomorrow and Cyber Monday is around the corner. Both are big shopping days across North America and offer plenty of opportunities for you to control what presents you get for Christmas. A few well placed suggestions and you might get the Prius V accessories you have been wanting without having to spend a dime of your own cash. Here are a few Prius accessories that you can name drop to your relatives.
Let’s start with something simple. Everyone has been annoyed by a glare from the sun on their navigation system. The simplest, and maybe the cheapest, way to eliminate that is to add a NavCap. This is a sun visor for your navigation system. Just clip it on and no more glare.
Are you a smoker that drives a Prius V that does not have an ashtray? It gets a little annoying having to drive around with the window down just to get rid of ashes. Why not hint to a family member that you would really like to have a Prius V ashtray cup? It is exactly what it sounds like. It fits into your cup holder and features a hinged lid to cut down on odor and free flying ash.
Alright, neither of these Prius V accessories is essential to the function of your car, but they are inexpensive gift ideas that make sense to most people. Who doesn’t sympathize with you about the annoying glare on their nav screen and any smoker will understand the need for an ashtray.
November 24, 2011
Toyota Prius all weather floor mat
The inexorable march of the seasons is forcing itself upon us. Winter is breathing down the necks of people everywhere. That means white powder is on the horizon. It also means slush, road salt, and general wet nastiness. All of which can destroy your car over time unless you add a few practical
Toyota Prius accessories to your ride.
The first Toyota Prius accessory to consider is a set of all weather floor mats. These mats are designed from durable plastic with channels so that water and slush are pooled in a drainage area. The mat can then be lifted out of your foot box area and drained without your carpet getting wet. Along the same line is a cargo liner for your trunk area. A poorly maintained interior can lower your car’s resale value by several hundred if not a couple of thousand dollars. Companies like WeatherTech and Husky offer all weather products that are specifically designed for the Toyota Prius, insuring a proper fit that does not interfere with pedal use.
The last Toyota Prius accessory to consider adding is a set of mud guards, mud flaps, splash guards, or whatever you want to call them. Road salt and slush are not going to do any favors to the body corners of your car. They are simple to install and go a long way towards preventing rust.
Toyota Prius accessories run the gambit and practical ones like those mentioned here are often overlooked. You have way too much cash invested in your ride to not protect its potential resale value.
October 28, 2011
You have seen them zipping around the neighborhood or ripping up the road. They are cars that look oddly familiar, but somehow not quite recognizable. What they are is a Toyota Prius with a body kit.
A body kit adds a front spoiler, side skirts, and a rear half spoiler to your Toyota Prius. The spoilers are bumper attachments that change the look of your Prius while improving aerodynamic effects. The change in aerodynamics can help improve handling and fuel economy.
A Prius body kit will make your car a head turner and give it a look of performance capability. The added benefit of improved aerodynamics will be a happy surprise at the gas pump. Combine the body kit with other performance parts and you will surprise plenty of people on the road, as well.
June 17, 2011
Even if you have just driven your new Toyota Prius off the lot, resale value should be on your mind. Unless you are one of a rare breed, you are going to sell that car sometime in the next ten years and you will want to get the most money possible when you do. Using a center console cover is an inexpensive way to protect an area of the interior that is susceptible to extreme wear and tear.
How many drivers lean one arm on the center console or put a drink there while they fumble for their keys? Now, how many times have you seen the console ripped, dirty, or ragged looking? A Toyota Prius center console cover will prevent most of that wear.
Center console covers are custom designed for your Toyota Prius and are easy to install. The wear that one will prevent will more than pay for itself when you sell or trade in your car.
June 8, 2011
Most people think that Toyota Prius roof racks are only for the outdoor types that want to carry their mountain bikes from place to place. That is not the case today. Roof racks have many uses and have become a necessary accessory for your hybrid.
While roof racks are still widely used to carry bikes, kayaks, and other outdoor equipment, they have become a way to expand the cargo capacity of smaller cars. The Toyota Prius is a fuel efficient car with plenty of room for everyday use, but can become cramped when you need to load enough luggage for an extended trip. Adding a roof rack can nearly double your car’s cargo capacity.
Toyota Prius roof racks have become a necessary accessory for the owners of these fuel efficient cars. The added carrying capacity and the comfort of not having your luggage practically in your lap will more than justify the expense.
June 8, 2011
Summer is upon us. It was hard to think that it was coming with such a wet spring, but it has arrived. With it comes the urge to spend more time outdoors and hit the riding trails. You need to be prepared by adding a Prius bike rack to your car.
You have several options. Most Prius bike racks designed for the roof can carry two bikes at a time. A Prius hitch bike rack offers the opportunity to carry up to three and is easily removable when not in use. Which ever you choose, you will still have access to your trunk and hatch areas.
As the summer heats up you will be wanting to hit the trails either alone or with friends. A Prius bike rack is going to help you be prepared for the phone call that starts the riding season. Have fun!
June 1, 2011
Some years ago most automakers switched to electric throttles in order to increase mpg. The throttle controller in most vehicles is set to maximize fuel economy, but leave some acceleration response. Eco tune performance parts are designed to increase the mpg your Prius offers beyond what the factory settings allow.
These eco tune performance parts are model specific for your Prius. They increase mpg by switching the acceleration aspect of the throttle controller to a more steady and less gas demanding rate. You will seem to lose some of the instantaneous throttle response that many have come to expect, but your fuel economy will improve.
The Toyota Prius is already the most fuel efficient gas powered car available. Installing eco tune performance parts will take your car one step further. Surely, you won’t complain about getting more than 50 mpg on the highway.
June 1, 2011
One of the easiest ways to increase your car’s performance is to lose some of the excess weight. One item with the most potential weight loss is the hood. A Seibon carbon fiber hood can weigh as much as 50 lbs less than your factory hood.
The weight loss from a Seibon carbon fiber hood will help in the quarter and long track. You will see a small increase in fuel efficiency and a great leap in style. Possibly the best part of carbon fiber hood is the ease of installation. You may need help taking the factory hood off because of its weight, but the new installation is a simple one man job.
Engine modification and lowering springs can be expensive to install, but a Seibon carbon fiber hood is not. Weight loss is a quick way to decrease 0-60 times, plus you can plan for future cold air intake by ordering a hood with a scoop in place or installing one yourself. Carbon fiber opens up a variety of options for you.
May 12, 2011
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