The next-generation Toyota Prius, set to be revealed on September 8 in Las Vegas, has been caught without camouflage as it sits in what looks to be an aircraft hold.
The undisputed hybrid sales leader picks up numerous design cues from the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, including its swept-back headlights and triangular fog light pods.
Details on the new Prius are unknown at this point, but expect a more-refined interior, increased battery capacity for up to 35 miles of all-electric driving, and increased efficiency from the drivetrain. Inductive charging remains a possibility. The Prius will also be built atop the Toyota New Global Architecture (TGNA).
Last updated in 2011 with a mild refresh, sales of the Toyota Prius have fallen since 2007 and 2008 amidst lower gas prices.
[Source: Prius Club Malaysia]
Looks great and futuristic. From the side, the back end looks heavy but they didn’t cheap out with circular fog lamps! I also really hope there’s glass in the front of the wing mirror and not black plastic.
The front looks fine, but the back end (from that photo) looks terrible. Maybe now that they are cooperating with Mazda they can ask for help with design.
Gas today $3.69 for regular. Plz send 100,00 immed
Gas today $2.39 – no need to send any.
I saw regular for $1.89.9 on the way to work about 4 hours ago. I hope it’s still that much in the morning.
I like it better than the Camry or Corolla which just seem to be fancy fronts on the same old body.
Those head and taillights look gigantic.Not a buyer anyway,but damn that’s ugly.
I have come to the conclusion that they are making it ugly on purpose. I don’t understand it, but that’s my opinion/feeling.
sales tend to fall on everything thats been out for a while.
love it or hate it, it uses toyotas design language, including their “3D shelf” taillights which also look like theyre cutting into the bumpers.
the “floating roof” and CRX style backglass also looks interesting
Looks okay. The blacked out rear pillar/floating roof thing is somewhat played out thanks to various GM designs from the 80’s -90’s. Olds Cutlass and some Saturns come to mind. But whatever works I guess. Toyota usually does well.
Floating/blacked-out C pillar is back in vogue with Maxima, Murano and Jaguar.
Not sure if I’m a fan of the Star Wars fighter front end….
Not too concerned about styling as an artistic statement. It’s an appliance. I do see that pseudo coupe like styling with squashed roof which tapers sharply behind the middle of front door. Reduces headoom. Even if the rear roof is not as low as it looks, the rear door opening looks low and might force the passenger to duck their head. Will have to see when the real car arrives.
Hope it is not like that stupidly low rear door opening in the ZDX, a MDX size SUV. ZDX equals nice interior, stupidly compromised rear seat access and rear headroom. Headbang anyone?
Image of ZDX
http://img2.carmax.com/img/vehicles/11869595/4/v-0x8d2a75009a177f3/700/525.jpg
Hope the Prius V, if any, doesn’t have a squashed roof or severe fastback tailgate to severely reduce interior room.
Yuck! Toyota revives Datsun’s Atomic Cockroach school of design.
This is EXACTLY what the dated Prius needs, Lexus LFA styling cues and a few stolen bits from a 1991 Saturn, the PERFECT BLEND!
’91 Saturn!!!! Thank you!! I couldn’t remember why the back end looked so familiar.
Anytime
https://forums.finalgear.com/attachments/general-automotive/worst-10-members-cars-motorcycles-of-final-gear-2012-voting-extended-ends-july-14/7088d1340394495-img20101001111737.jpg
For the love of God, will someone, anyone, get Toyota’s “stylists” some help? There are all sorts of unemployed Italian design house guys just begging for jobs. There is no need for this level of hideous on the street.
Agreed. It’s gotten really bad.
This ugly duckling will give up market to the upcoming Hyundai hybrid.
I don’t think they’ll be giving up too much market share…. Prius is THE hybrid brand….Honda didn’t dent them, the Hyundai/Kia sedans didn’t dent them…
To be honest where Hyundai/Kia should aim their hybrid resources is the Sportage & Santa Fe, aiming for the 35-40 mpg sweet spot.
I dunno. I haven’t met a lot of Prius buyers with particularly adventurous taste.
The only company that can drive hybrid buyers away from the Prius may be Toyota itself.
I actually *do* like some of Toyota’s styling (Avalon, Highlander, 4Runner, even the refreshed 2015 Camry). But this…this is a bridge too far.
I guess this is punishment for calling Toyota “boring” for the past 20 years.
Though I quite liked their “boring cars”, at least they looked well-assembled.
The thing about “boring” styling is that it usually ages well. Older Audis, VWs, BMWs, Hondas, Toyotas, etc. aged well even if the styling was never particularly exciting.
“Luke, I’m your father… and this is your new ride”
The nose looks like a Tucker torpedo but overall the design looks portly. The fit and finish is terrible, that hood gap is massive
Pre-production model, so you can’t judge on things like that really.
Neener, neener… it’ll sell, sell, sell.
It’s so Shogun!
Maybe these two cars are about to get a burial at see, “bin Laden style”.
This model is ugly, but so were previous Prii. Prius styling is meant to be distinctive, not necessarily attractive, and to signal “greenness” to other drivers. In this regard, I think the styling is successful.
The current car looks reasonable — you know what it is! Nice and roomy inside, decent access to the back seat, even with the Kammback profile. Just needed a little more quality inside to be competitive. (I’ve ridden in one of these once, and was impressed overall, save for the interior quality, and the center-mounted speedo.) I guess the saving grace is that they didn’t go all-out gaping maw, a-la the refreshed Camry.
When I saw ** THESE PICS, ** I almost threw up in my mouth!!
First, W! T! F!!! is with that front end???!!! (At least TOYota is finally fitting folding mirrors to more of its cars — or did they already fit those on the Prius in 2011? Maybe I’m thinking Camry! First bump to the side of the garage = four-figure repair, versus no damage at all on my Accord with PPF on the mirrors!)
And then the rear 3/4!!! The love child of a Kia Optima and the new Nissan Maxima! Not to mention “good luck” on collision repairs on the character line back there — it looks like you could use that to slice cold cuts! I’m sure that’s for aero optimization, but even a minor hit to the rear quarter could total one of these if enough airbags are popped!
“Fugly” is an understatement!
I’m failing to see how this has any more character lines than almost any other modern car. Yeah, it may not look great, but it’ll be just as hard to repair as anything. And do people even use that as a reason to buy any car?
I’m just glad they still put that little hatchback glass panel.
Were this GM, they’d champion the lack of visibility and go sans glass.
Love it, love it, love it! It’s kooky, its funky, and in some places it’s a bit of a head scratcher… its totally a Prius. It’s not pretty, but the Prius has never been about that.
If you want a hybrid, there are lots of those, (some of which are quite attractive) everyone makes one now, but if you want a Prius, nothing else will do.
Those that like hybrids, for whatever reason, will like their car to stand out from the rest and this will meet that objective I think. Those that hate hybrid or Toyotas or boring appliance that don’t have dynamic handling/performance, will continue to hate. Ultimately, with the improved fuel economy, it will sell and continues to piss off the naysayers.
Just ghastly. A mish-mash of random styling cues – it’s like some big plate of origami escargot.
I think it’s the right look for the Prius. Know your audience right?
I actually like the look of it from the rear and 3/4 but I think the front is just too much.
Still, it’s one of those cars you buy for what it does and not what it looks like. At least that’s why I bought my 2010.
Unless the capabilities are too good to pass up, I will probably replace mine with a vehicle with more ground clearance which will suit my needs a lot better. Maybe an Outback or a CX-5.
No Rav4 hybrid?
It’s futuristic, funky, and all the “get off my lawn folks” will hate it. I love it! If driving dynamics have improved over my 2013 model as promised, during Toyota’s Summer clearance/memorial day/arbor day/any excuse for a promotion day clearance sale in 2016, one of them will be mine. In blue.
It has tail fins!
One reason the Prius sells better than other hybrids is because it’s hybrid only and instantly recognizable as such, so it pays to be distinctive.
It’s the ultimate transportation appliance. I just wish they weren’t so weak. Now that they have a huge battery, I’d like to see a performance oriented “D” version, with powered rear wheels and a 0-60 in the sixes. Then I might consider getting one.