2016 Toyota Prius Spied in Thailand
The 2016 Toyota Prius has been spied testing in Thailand.
The next-generation Toyota Prius was expected to debut by now, but the Japanese automaker pushed its unveiling in order to revamp its styling. The 2016 Toyota Prius spied here closely resembles the current model with just a lot of black tape, hinting that Toyota won’t drastically change its styling for the next iteration, although we can’t see the front end. The bigger changes to the 2016 Toyota Prius will be its platform with the new model riding on the Toyota New Global Architecture that will help the popular hybrid shed 20 percent of its weight.
SEE ALSO: Is This the 2016 Toyota Prius?
Reports say that the 2016 Toyota Prius will have a thermal efficiency of 40 percent, compared to the current model’s 38.5 percent. The previous generation Toyota Prius had a thermal efficiency of 37 percent. If the next-generation Prius turns out to be rated at 40 percent, it could possibly have the highest thermal efficiency rating out of all mass-produced passenger vehicles. It is also expected that the 2016 Toyota Prius will be available with either nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion batteries, with the latter being more expensive but offering a better all-electric driving range.
The 2016 Toyota Prius will make its debut later this year and the plug-in hybrid model will follow in mid-2016.
[Source: Indians Auto Blog]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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I don't see why Toyota can't modernize the looks of this car. The Avalon hybrid is pretty good looking compared to this and gets great gas mileage. Big fan of Toyota, but they suck at designs.
If it had a HCCI lean burn engine it could achieve even higher thermal efficiencies. 20% reduction in weight; The current Prius is about 3,000 pounds so about 600 pounds shedded? Doubtful, very doubtful.