Howdy Webriders! Dr. VW here with some first shots at the newly face-lifted 2010 Toyota Prius. Debuted at the North American International Auto Show, Toyota brought a heavily re-designed Prius that offered a 4mpg bump over its predecessor. The new sheetmetal and MPG bump (now estimated over 50!) aren’t the only new features- Toyota reportedly filed over a 1000 new patents on the 2010 Prius. Hit the Jump to see some of the new features!

While the list is long and the official press release can be found here; I’ll go ahead and skip to the three best new features on the Prius.

1. Improved efficiency and performance. The new Prius uses a host of tricks to improve it’s already legendary fuel economy while actually improving performance stats, as opposed to sacrificing them. Engineers re-designed many of the parts to be lighter and smaller, while the engine itself is made of 90% new and/or redesigned parts. The new 1.8L four banger puts out 98 horses of whirring fury and goes zero- to sixty in 9.8 seconds. The new body metal has allowed the Prius’s coefficient of drag (an integral factor in improving MPG) down to a mere .25. Impressive by any standard.

2. Improved Driver-Vehicle relationship. Prius critics have long pointed out that the mystical MPG numbers that Toyota touts are only under certain driving conditions that are often too inconvenient to replicate in the real world. However the new Prius offers several interesting additions to the traditional gauge suite, including battery life, energy flow, MPG history and driving conditions. This helps the driver adjust his or her habits in order to maximize efficiency. Aside from changing driver habits, the Prius also makes use of more efficient parts like LED lights, a solar powered air conditioning system, and a lower revving engine at freeway speeds.

3. Body. Say what you will about the old Prius’s looks– the new Prius is the girl next door compared to it’s two older sisters. Aside from looking more lithe and less nerdy, the sexy new curves of a post-pubescent Prius also more closely match the rest of the Toyota family. It no longer looks like the adopted ugly duckling, and its nose has the now typical Toyota ridge bump. All around the car looks better, more refined, and less obviously futuristic looking. While some liked the old quirky Prius, I personally think the new Prius stays true to its roots, fits in better with the Toyota family, and obviously makes use of some aerodynamics that are as functional as they are sexy.

That’s all for today boys and girls– be sure to check out the full gallery and as always, leave a comment. Dr. VW– out.