Prius Not So Sneaky Now

Toyota To Offer Noisemaking Add On For Quiet Hybrid Car

The Prius is known for it's gas mileage and it's quiet driving.  Toyota is looking to change the latter in the name of pedestrian safety.

Toyota has developed an “Approaching Vehicle Audible System” for the Prius that makes a synthesized warning tone to make up for its electric-only quietness.

The speaker system works at speeds under 16 mph when the Prius is rolling without the gasoline engine running.

It emits tones that sound like a whirring electric motor, which vary in pitch with vehicle speed. Future Toyota hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles will likely include such sound systems.  The device can be retrofitted to any current-generation Toyota Prius. 

Currently the device is only available in Japan but Toyota is developing a similar add-on for the U.S. and other countries.  At the moment there is no firm roll-out date set.