To make a statement. When the Prius came out it was clearly designed to be very unique so people knew it was a new type of vehicle (hybrid). If you wanted to ma

To make a statement. When the Prius came out it was clearly designed to be very unique so people knew it was a new type of vehicle (hybrid). If you wanted to make sure everyone knew you were being environmental, you got a Prius because it was obvious. The uniqueness was a driving force in getting the concept of hybrids to be more accepted, since at the time the whole concept of any type of electric vehicle was completely foreign, and seeing these unique things on the road actually helped them to be accepted.