2004+ Prius doesn't have a turtle, so nothing to worry about.

 

So dumb question ... what years would be considered gen 1 Prius model?

 

In North America Gen 1 Prius is model year 2000-2003, there's also a model in Japan that was from 1997-1999 but it looks almost the same as the next gen that came here but it's the true first gen Prius. 2004-2006 will be the current 'Prius II' and the next gen will come in 2007.

 

Actually, 2001-2003 is the first-generation Prius, but yeah, you're right about everything else. Here's a timetable showing the current latest models available, as best I understand:

1997: Prius Jp
1998: Prius Jp
1999: Prius Jp
2000: Insight I
2001: Insight I, Prius I
2002: Insight I, Prius I
2003: Insight I, Prius I, HCH I
2004: Insight I, Prius II, HCH I
2005: Insight I, Prius II, HCH I
2006: Insight I, Prius II, HCH II
2007: Insight I, Prius III, HCH II

 

The prius is capable of very high speeds although fuel economy will drop. I once got my prius very quickly to 111 mph down hill on rte 257 in Quebec just north of us-canadian border. On level the car tops out at around 101mph. I was told that is because the transistors can only spark back and forth so fast. Anyway fuel economy drops off as you go faster. Recently with my prius I got 52mpg at 65mph and 42mpg around 80mph. By the way, I got my father's 2005 Infinate ratio HCH all the way to 112mph on very slight (1%) grade-then limiter cut in. My 2000 5sp insight I used to have routinely hit the limiter of 113mph on same slight downgrade.

 

Theoretical top speed is 102 MPH due to the RPM limits for the ICE and MG2. There was a report by someone who tried that speed and reported the engine pulled all the way up to the RPM limiter.

 

A Prius II was tweaked to run at 130 MPH. They increased the engine max RPMs, plus ran with ice packs on the inverter at 550v and a few other things like lowering, suspension, gear ratios and 25-26 inch tires.

http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage1758.html