>> "Yes, but the 520D was a MANUAL gearbox, the Prius is an AUTOMATIC,"
>>
>> There's a funny thing. If Toyota was so keen to push the virtues of hybrid
>> technology - including how economical it was - why did they not make the Prius
>> available with a manual gearbox?
>>
>> And am I right in thinking that Toyota / Lexus have not made any of
>> the hybrids they sell in the UK available with a manual gearbox?
>>
It doesn't work like that, it's not a gearbox its a Hybrid Synergy drive. It works on a set of planetary gears connecting an engine, an electric motor and an electric motor/generator, all computer controlled to give a similar effect to a CVT gearbox, putting the petrol engine in the most efficient rev range at all times. Toyota market it as an ECVT (electronic continuously variable transmission). To add a gearbox would take away the facility to use electric only mode so it would function like a Honda Insight (automatic) or the Honda Civic IMA (manual) where the engine runs all the time the car is moving and only stops when the car is stationary.
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