Leaked pics: Toyota's new Prius C
Compact version of Toyota Prius prematurely exposed via leaked sales brochureToyota’s upcoming Prius C has been outed by these images from a leaked brochure published in Carscoop magazine.
Due on sale internationally in the first half of 2012, the Prius C is designed to sit below the existing Prius as part of Toyota’s model-expansion strategy to broaden the target market and grow sales of the dedicated hybrid.
The car was previewed earlier this year in concept form at the Detroit motor show and, at the time, Toyota billed it as a more compact offering than the Prius that will be aimed at singles and young couples.
“For drivers who need a car to get around town and who don’t want to be paying astronomical amounts for fuel, the Toyota Prius C Concept is the answer,” said Toyota as the Prius C Concept was unveiled.
“It’s more compact than the existing Prius so squeezing into tight parking spots is a breeze. The Prius C has a five-door design to accommodate extra passengers and luggage. The Prius C Concept has the core Prius values based on our proven Hybrid Synergy Drive technology – strong performance, great fuel economy and ultra-low emissions.”
As per the existing Prius, the new C variant mates a petrol engine with a supplementary electric motor and the car switches driving modes automatically, depending on the situation.
Based on the information in the leaked brochure, it appears the Prius C is equipped with a 1.4-litre petrol engine that ekes out 55kW and 111Nm, with supplementary power coming from an electric motor that produces 45kW and 170Nm. Peak combined power is rated at 74kW.
Visually, the Prius C appears to have better resolved proportions than the standard model and, although it’s more compact than the latter, its precise dimensions are not yet known.
Its launch is expected to more or less coincide with a facelift for the regular Prius, which has failed to meet its sales targets in Australia. Just 556 examples were sold until the end of September this year, compared with 1375 units during the same period in 2010.
The Prius C will be joined next year by a facelifted version of the regular model, along with a larger Prius V wagon, which will be built in both five- and seven-seat (Prius+) configurations.
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