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Car of the future exists today By Jorge Sosa I know it’s a sin, but I am seriously coveting another man’s car. Ever since I drove Hutchinson resident Al Cotter’s 2004 Toyota Prius, I’ve wanted to get my hands on a Prius of my own. I must not be the only sinner out there, because Cotter said he could sell his year-old car today for about $26,000, which is just about what he paid for it himself when it was new. What makes the car so desireable? For starters, the price of a gallon of gas is gradually eclipsing the price of a cheeseburger. If I have to choose between feeding myself or my car, I’d rather be driving something with a smaller appetite than my 13-year-old Dodge. Also, the car’s got plenty of fun gadgets to help me get my geek on — and most of them come standard. As Cotter said, “This car’s like a small luxury car. It’s got all the toys on it.” One optional gadget that he showed me was the “smart key.” As long as Cotter’s carrying the key on his person, he can start the engine with a simple push of a button. He never has to worry about locking himself out of the car, because the key never leaves his pocket. Having just paid $60 to have a locksmith let me back into my car, the smart key is looking smarter all the time. Another cool gadget is the Prius’ built-in GPS navigation system. I found this particularly impressive, because on the way to Cotter’s farm, I got lost. Really lost. Later, while Cotter and I were tooling around rural backroads, the Prius’ position was plainly marked on the in-dash GPS navigation screen. As the icon representing the car made its way along the digital street map of Hutchinson, I told Cotter, “I could’ve used this on the way out here.” I began to realize that much of the Prius’ appeal is not just the amazing fuel economy, but that it’s so “intelligent” that it makes up for my own absent-mindedness. Fuel economy, however, is what first drew Cotter to the Prius. The car costs more than other vehicles of comparable size, but he said that’s offset by the savings in fuel. One of the features on the in-dash screen is a fuel economy calculator. Cotter and I took turns driving the car, and he averaged 50 miles per gallon on his stretch. I was only able to eke out 48 mpg. My manhood was insulted. Cotter and his wife Joan actually have a running competition to see who can be the most miserly driver. “It’s kind of a joke between us,” he said. While he considers himself to be an all-around better driver, he said Joan always manages to get better mileage. “I don’t know what she does,” he said. The secret to the car’s efficiency is that it’s designed from the ground up to get better fuel economy. It’s one of the most aerodynamic cars on the market, with a drag coefficient of 0.26. For comparison, a new Volkwagen Beetle has a drag coefficient of 0.38. The car also has a clutchless continuously variable transmission. Cotter said this kind of transmission is more efficient in stop-and-go driving. All I know is that acceleration is more fun when it’s doled out in a constant, smooth flow. Maybe that’s why I got only 48 mpg. The heart of the car is what Toyota calls its Hybrid Synergy Drive. This consists of a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine, a generator, a battery, an electric motor and a computer that controls the whole works. The Prius’ gasoline-powered engine works differently from that of most production cars — it uses the Atkinson combustion cycle which favors maximum fuel efficiency over maximum power. When boosted with extra horsepower from the electric motor, acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour is about 10 seconds — inadequate for drag racing but decent for any other occasion. When the car is just cruising around town at lower speeds or backing out of a parking spot, the electric motor does all of the work. Under high acceleration or highway cruising, the gas-powered motor kicks in to provide extra juice. The electric motor never has to be plugged in, because its battery is recharged by braking and the on-board generator. After playing with the Prius for about 15 minutes, I reluctantly gave the wheel back to Cotter. I was in love. We pulled into his garage and listened to the mysterious whirrings and whooshings emanating from under the hood. The Prius has an electric pump that siphons hot coolant out of the engine and into a thermos-style container. The coolant is kept warm for the next time the Prius is started up. This avoids cold starts and saves on wear and tear. Ingenious. So, I admit it. Maybe it’s just a guy thing, but I’ve got gadget envy. Like Apple’s iPod, the Toyota Prius is one of those cool must-have toys. And as Cotter said, “It’s kinda nice to think, ‘Gee whiz, I’m not spending a lot on gasoline.’”
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