Toyota’s fourth-generation Prius has been spotted testing ahead of its planned debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month.
The new car will go on sale in the UK early next year and face competition from a new generation of family-orientated hybrids from the likes of Hyundai and Kia.
Underpinning the next-generation Prius is Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA). Unveiled in March of this year, the new modular platform is essentially a kit of “lighter, more compact” components which will be used for a range of front and rear-wheel drive vehicles from the Japanese manufacturer.
Toyota says the new architecture will make its models stiffer and lighter, as well as allowing it to mount engines lower down. The result should be cars that ride and handle better and provide improved safety and better fuel economy.
As well as the added benefits to drivers, the manufacturing costs associated with building cars on the new platform are understood to be dramatically lower. Investment in a TNGA-based car is around 40% lower than on a similar model from 2008. It’s understood that the money saved by the new platform will be re-invested in new vehicle technologies, which could include autonomous driving systems.
The first early-stage Prius test mules were spotted as far back as 2013. They appeared to show that the new Prius would adopt a more conventional instrument cluster than the all-digital unit used by the current third-generation car.
These latest pictures, however, confirm that the new Prius will still use an all-digital array, but will feature updated software and graphics. A sleeker centre console design can also be seen, alongside a larger central screen for the infotainment system.
Powertrain options for the new Prius have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to be offered with an evolution of today’s hybrid set-up, which combines a 1.8-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a combined 134bhp and up to 76mpg. Power is channeled through a CVT. As with today’s car, both conventional and plug-in hybrid options will be offered.
Speaking to an Australian news website last year, sources close to Toyota were quoted as saying the company was targetting a 10% improvement in fuel economy - suggesting the new model will be capable of returning up to 84mpg.
The same source also claimed the next-generation Prius would come with nickel-metal hydride batteries as standard, but a lithium ion battery pack would be optional.
While these latest spy pictures confirm the new Prius will keep the same overall dimensions as the current car, it’s expected to take styling cues from Toyota’s latest models, including the facelifted Avensis and the new Mirai.
Given the versatility of Toyota’s new platform, it’s safe to assume that a replacement for the larger, seven-seat Prius+ will be planned for later in the car’s life cycle.
The new Prius will enjoy only a few months of sales in Europe next year before new rivals begin to fight for hybrid supremacy. Among the new generation of models is a dedicated Hyundai hybrid, which has already been spotted testing and will go on sale in Europe by the end of next year. A concept car previewing the new model is expected to be seen at the Frankfurt motor show.
Hyundai’s sister brand Kia is also planning a dedicated hybrid model and has pledged to have its car on the road by the end of next year.
The market for alternatively fuelled vehicles - which includes electric cars and hybrids - continues to grow in the UK. Recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that registrations of AFVs rose by 31% last month alone, with a total of 4314 vehicles registered in this country. For the year to date, AFV registrations have risen to 42,247 units - a 58% rise on 2014.
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Toyota reveals new next-generation vehicle architecture
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