Can a Toyota Prius be Modified to Go Faster?
The words “performance” and “Prius” do not go together in any way, shape, or form. But technically, if you had a large amount of money, then you could make any car fast, right? Maybe. After all, Honda came out with a supercharger kit for the CR-Z years ago, and it bumped the power up significantly. But Toyota hasn’t done anything like that for the Prius, which made us wonder if it’s even possible to make a Prius go faster than its stock form.
There are many aftermarket modifications for the Toyota Prius
A quick Google search for current Toyota Prius models reveals that there is a multitude of aftermarket parts for it. However, a lot of them are appearance and cosmetic upgrades. In case you currently own a Prius and want to customize its look, then you certainly get ahold of an engine dress-up kit that replaces some of the washers and bolts to make the engine bay look a bit more lively. And on top of that, there’s also a plethora of aftermarket decals and graphics that you can stick on your Prius. However, contrary to popular belief, they do not add horsepower.
Can horsepower be added to a Toyota Prius?
Technically, yes, but probably not how you might like to add horsepower to a Prius. Most enthusiasts would likely opt for a turbocharger or a supercharger kit, but if your platform is a Toyota Prius, then you’re pretty much limited to an aftermarket intake system or just a freer-flowing air filter. Performance chips are available, but according to various Prius message boards, they’re snake oil. It’s sad, we know, but maybe it’s just not meant to be. Although you can add a nitrous oxide kit, no one really recommends that.
What is the best way to make a Toyota Prius faster?
Since there aren’t really any true performance modifications available, we recommend upgrading the car’s handling if you don’t want to leave your Prius stock. There are multiple spring and shock combinations from well-known companies like Bilstein and Eibach, but if you want to make the car stick, then we recommend a set of coilovers from a reputable company like Tein.
Speaking of sticking to the road, another way to make a Toyota Prius go faster is to get a set of super sticky tires and a wider set of wheels. The tires are the only parts of the car connected to the road, so a good soft-compound Summer tire can make a Prius get around a corner faster. Also, wider wheels allow for more contact with the ground, which can aid in handling as well. Just don’t expect too much steering feel out of the Prius’ numb-feeling steering.
If all else fails, just floor it
If you do suspension modifications to your Prius and still find it to be slow, then just push the gas pedal harder. Yes, we know that the Prius only has 121 horsepower, but how else will you extract all of them? Also, you’ll probably still get 40 mpg while flooring it, so at the end of the day, you still win the race that’s going on in your mind. And if that’s still not enough, then you can install a Hellcat engine as this company did:
