Mark your calendars. Toyota‘s new Prius hybrid is set to make its official debut Sept. 8 in Las Vegas.
The 2016, fourth-generation iteration of Toyota’s top-selling hybrid hatchback is expected to begin production late this year. The standard Prius hybrid hatchback is expected to be released first, with the plug-in version set to follow early next year, AutomobileMag.com reports.
The new Prius will be the first Toyota vehicle to be built on the company’s new shared modular platform, dubbed Toyota New Global Architecture. Expect the new Prius to be about 20 per cent lighter and 15 per cent more fuel efficient compared to the current Prius. It’s also expected the hybrid will switch to more efficient and energy-dense lithium-ion batteries to replace the current generation’s nickel metal hydride batteries.
Don’t expect a major shift in looks, though. The Prius will probably keep to its current profile for aerodynamic reasons. But an edgier design inspired by the Toyota C-HR concept could be in the cards.
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