Secret’s out on new Prius

Text: Peter Lyon / Photos: Auto Week

22nd October 2008

Toyota bosses are in for a real shock! That’s because pictures of the new Prius hybrid have been leaked. And that’s not the only scoop – Auto Express has details of a cut-price version of the petrol-electric model, too.

Surfacing on the Internet ahead of its launch next year, these images show how the new model evolves the look of the current car with a more distinctive front end. In profile it’s near identical, but the shape is tweaked to improve aerodynamics. The new Prius is slightly larger than the outgoing car, and has a more compact hybrid powertrain, so there will be extra space for passengers and in the boot.

Under the bonnet lies a more powerful 1.8-litre engine, which works in tandem with an uprated nickel hydride battery pack. It will help the car return 75mpg combined, and emit less than 100g/km of CO2.

The latest Toyota is expected to be more expensive than the outgoing model, starting from around £20,000. However, Auto Express has learned that bosses plan to keep the current Prius on sale – and to compete with Honda’s forthcoming Insight, it will be at a new low price.

The next Insight is tipped to weigh in at less than £15,000 when it arrives here in March – undercutting the Prius by at least £3,000 for now. So, Toyota aims to tempt buyers into showrooms by marketing the current version at around the same price as its rival.

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