Toyota Prius first to get new state-of-the-art platform

Toyota has confirmed the all-new Prius hybrid will be the first model to take advantage of the Japanese company's billion-dollar TNGA platform.

The platform, said to be significantly lighter and between 35-60 per cent stronger than the current car’s underpinnings, will also dictate the sleeker shape of the fourth-generation Prius, according to a Toyota insider speaking exclusively to motoring.com.au.

“The next-generation Prius will be lower and wider, but still unmistakably a Prius,” said the insider, hinting that the Mk4 Prius could look far sportier than the car it replaces.

It could also be far better to drive. The TNGA platform has a much lower centre of gravity that should help driving dynamics.

Due on sale in Australia early next year, the new Prius could also be cheaper. Using the new global platform is said to make Toyota hybrids of the future 40 per cent cheaper to develop. Toyota says it plans to reinvest 75 per cent of that savings back into making the car better than its opposition -- the Prius will be our first chance to see if that’s true.

Set for a reveal at the Tokyo motor show this October, the insider revealed it was far too late for the new hybrid to benefit from the recent technical tie-up with Mazda and development of the hybrid was too far advanced for it to receive an efficient SKYACTIV petrol engine.

Instead, the new hybrid could receive a development of the new 85kW/185Nm 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that, thanks to direct-injection and the ability to run both Otto and Atkinson cycle combustion, is said to offer class-leading efficiency.

Like the moel it replaces, the new Prius is expected to be available with both plug-in hybrid technology as well as a more conventional hybrid when it goes on sale globally in early 2016. Whether the plug-in version remains off-limits Down Under remains to be seen.