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Prius Investigation Results Consistent with Edmunds' InsideLine.com Test

Last week, Edmunds' InsideLine.com evaluated its own Toyota Prius to simulate the unfortunate situation and found that even when the car was at full throttle, with consistent braking effort, the car's engine is cut off by the brake override system. If the brake override system wasn't working, there would likely be damage under the hood, a malfunction indicator light on the dashboard and a fault code in the diagnostics system. None has been found.

"Toyota revealed that the brakes had been applied some 250 times during the episode. At the speed and distance reported, that's an average of once every four seconds," noted Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing at Edmunds.com Inc. "Generally speaking, it is possible to push on the brake lightly and not engage the brake override system. But that type of braking is inconsistent with someone wanting to stop in an emergency situation."

InsideLine.com conducted its own testing with a 2004 Toyota Prius, the same generation vehicle as the one in San Diego. More information about Edmunds.com's test may be found in "2004 Toyota Prius: Three Ways to Deal with a Stuck Throttle" at http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/03/2004-toyota-prius-three-ways-to-deal-with-a-stuck-throttle.html.

About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)

Edmunds.com Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive consumer information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. CarSpace is the most established automotive social networking Web site. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter @edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.

Edmunds.com Corporate Communications
Jeannine Fallon and Chintan Talati
Media Hotline: 310-309-4900
pr@edmunds.com
www.edmunds.com