When the first version of Toyota Prius became available worldwide, it set the bar for gasoline/electric hybrid cars. Toyota shattered criticisms and bad reviews of Prius after it sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide. Now, with the brand-new fourth-generation model, Toyota aims to continue what they started. Here's what we know so far about 2016 Prius' release date, specs and price.

The iconic five-passenger car has sleeker look, improved fuel efficiency, expanded interior and advanced safety features.  The car has new striking design that brings new levels of driving satisfaction.

"Toyota's reputation for conservative styling is so strong that it has persisted in the face of a number of recent, genuinely zany looking cars and trucks. Maybe this wacky Prius will be the impetus for a reappraisal of the Toyota line's styling; it has been for me," according to Rory Carrol from Autoweek.com

Inside, drivers can easily notice a host of new smart technologies and improved interior features. The new Prius dashboard is wider and clearer. Its instrument is split into two 4.2-inch displays, with the speedometer and energy use info on the right side, and customizable features such as radio stations, trip meters and other info on the left.  The background of the dashboard changes depending on the driving mode.

Under the hood, its gas engine is a 1.8-liter four cylinder that produces 95 horsepower; with help from the electric motor, it pumps out 121 horsepower and 105 lb.-ft. of torque. Also, the innovative brake system transforms the motor into a generator.  When the car stops, it recovers kinetic energy from the wheels that can be stored in the hybrid battery.

Compare to the previous versions of Prius, this new model is faster despite having less net horsepower. As for the MPGs of 2016 Prius, it is 54 mpg in city driving and 50 mpg on highways.

One of the interesting improvements of the fourth-generation Prius is the Toyota's new Global Architecture. This feature provides a rigid structural framework around the car for protection against hard collisions. Also, Prius is the first car in the US models to have Toyota Safety Sense, which offers advanced safety features, such as pre-collision braking, lane departure assistance and dynamic radar cruise control.

The 2016 Toyota Prius comes in six trims. According to Edmunds, its price starts at $25,378--with destination and delivery starting at $835.