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NEWS
SPY PICS: Family resemblance for Toyota Prius
The car that pioneered hybrid production is expected to adopt Corolla looks from next yearThese photos of a heavily overdressed pre-production Toyota Prius going through its paces in the US desert indicate that the styling of the next generation model will remain broadly true to the second and third generation models that have preceded it.
After all, when you're committed to a style aimed at optimising aerodynamic efficiency AND internal packaging, there's only so far you can mess with a car's basic shape.
For that reason, the high-rumped profile and shovel nose of the new Prius are clearly here to stay, but we expect Toyota will do some heavy work on the graphics for those fixed parts of the car's styling package. Consider the difference between the third-gen and the second-gen Prius... that's the level of change likely to be evident in the new model.
But there will be significant sheet metal changes. This shows up in profile views of the test vehicle. A much lower belt line will distinguish the new Prius from the current model, and with new doors come new window frames and (presumably) different roof pillars.
A close look at the bonnet and front end hints that the Prius will gain a frontal treatment mimicking Toyota‘s latest Corolla. That lower waist would draw a parallel with the new Corolla too. So Toyota appears to be aiming for Corolla styling cues imprinted on the bespoke Prius package. Or perhaps it's fairer to say that Corolla and Yaris have adopted some aspects of Prius frontal styling in their respective current series.
The team at Automedia (which was responsible for snapping these photos) says the next Prius will sit on an all all-new modular platform, which would certainly support major structural changes. Rumour has it the car will be lighter and more aerodynamic, and will also use an updated hybrid system with carryover nickel metal hydride batteries – not the more common lithium-ion systems used today. That rumour seems to be at odds with Toyota's use of lithium-ion in the seven-seat Prius V, so we wouldn't rule out a Li-ion battery for the new Prius.
Word is the fourth generation Prius will be unveiled in 2014 for the 2015 model year.
– with Automedia
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