• The name “Prius” means “to go before” in Latin, according to Toyota.

• Toyota has sold more than 1.2 million Priuses, globally, since it first debuted in 1997.

• During the development of the 2010 Toyota Prius, the automaker filed more than 1,000 patent applications worldwide.

• Toyota says that by installing a larger, 1.8-liter gasoline engine in the new Prius, the car turns fewer rpm on the highway, generating better fuel economy than the previous model.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius can accelerate to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds, according to Toyota.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius’s gasoline engine has no drive belts, improving fuel economy and potentially reducing long-term maintenance costs.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius is a “full hybrid,” meaning it can operate on battery power alone. In this case, the Prius can drive up to one mile at 25 mph using energy stored in the battery pack.

• Driving the 2010 Toyota Prius in Power mode makes the throttle more sensitive and produced a sportier driving feel.

• Driving the 2010 Toyota Prius in Eco mode will help the driver maximize fuel economy.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius produces 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new vehicle, according to Toyota.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius meets Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standard in California and the New England region.

• Toyota says the 2010 Prius received more wind tunnel testing hours of any previous model the company has designed, and the result is a 0.25 coefficient of drag (Cd), the lowest of any mass-produced car in the world according to Toyota.

• The available solar-powered ventilation system prevents the interior temperature inside the 2010 Toyota Prius from rising while the car is parked, making it more efficient to cool once underway.

• The available remote air conditioning system operates on battery power alone, and allows the 2010 Toyota Prius’s owner to cool the car to a desired temperature before getting inside.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius’s automatic climate control system includes a humidity sensor, and a dust and pollen filter.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius is equipped with an exhaust heat recirculation system that helps heat the interior faster on cold days.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius has four-wheel-disc brakes, replacing the front disc, rear drum setup from 2009.

• Ecological plastic is used in the 2010 Toyota Prius’s seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, door scuff plates, and deck trim covers.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius’s hybrid components are covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. In California and the New England region, the warranty is 10 years/150,000 miles for the battery, and 15 years/150,000 miles on remaining hybrid components.

• According to the EPA, the 2010 Toyota Prius is a midsize car.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius weighs just over 3,000 pounds.

• The 2010 Toyota Prius has 21.6 cubic feet of luggage capacity with the rear seats in use. With the rear seats folded, there is significantly more space, but Toyota does not publish volume data.