Finally, the 2016 Toyota Prius has been officially launched in the UAE. You may know that Toyota first introduced this hybrid car in December 1997 but it never reached here due to low demand of the hybrids. No doubt, there are a number of hybrid cars from other automakers in the market but Prius is different having sales’ numbers in millions and proven track record in the US.
The 2016 Toyota Prius will be accessible in two variants: Dynamic (Dh89000) and Iconic (Dh97900), both offering around 26.1 km/l fuel economy rating. While fuel prices might not be a concern here in the UAE despite lower subsidy from the government, the Prius may not win hearts for its fuel consumption capability alone. It has the looks, technology and the safety features one would desire in a family sedan.
At the launching ceremony, Koji Nagata, General Manager of Toyota Middle East and North Africa, and Len Hunt, President Automotive, AlFuttaim Group were present (see the photo above).
Toyota UAE is looking to target three core audiences in the UAE which include young car enthusiasts who are tech savvy with environment friendly minds. Then there are government entities that are environment-conscious, and lastly small and mid level businesses who value sustainability.
If 2016 Toyota Prius set a high stage in the hybrid arena, Toyota might look to introduce its other hybrid offerings. The Toyota Mirai is another option for environment-friendly people but whether or not it will hit the UAE market, only time will tell. We did test drive 2016 Mirai last year, so check out how it really feels like driving this hydrogen fuel cell car.