Smug mobile revealed in NYC
4Representing a significant improvement in aerodynamics, drivetrain and fuel efficiency the second gen Prius hit showrooms in October 2003 and just 3 months later the hybrid was named the 2004 North American car of the year.
Toyota would sell over 700 000 2nd Gen Prius’…priusii?...priuses…in the US between 2003 and 2009 and its success helped further investment and development in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Launched as the “greenest production car on the planet” the marketing campaigns focused heavily on the idea of legacy and leaving a better world behind…
…and thanks to this marketing and the many Hollywood and coastal elites who bought the car the Prius became somewhat synonymous with smug liberals.
Another notable reveal in the same show was the Chrysler 300 which was displayed as a concept car.
It would go into production in 2004 as a full-size luxury car going on sale in 2005. The first generation of the modern Chrysler 300, which was produced from 2005 to 2010, was a rear-wheel-drive sedan that was available with a variety of engines, including a V6, a V8, and a high-performance SRT8 model.
The exterior design of the first generation 300 was inspired by the classic Chrysler 300s of the 1950s and 1960s, with a bold and muscular look that set it apart from other sedans on the market. The interior of the car featured high-quality materials and a spacious, comfortable cabin that could seat up to five passengers.
The SRT8 model, which was introduced in 2006, featured a 6.1-liter V8 engine that produced 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the fastest sedans on the market at the time.
The 300 would eventually sell over 1.2 million units and apparently President Obama was among the purchasers.