Rumors of a separate brand to carry only hybrids has apparently been ruled out by Toyota. The brand and its dealerships would have carried the Prius logo that has become so synonymous with hybrid cars since Toyota introduced the world to the car in 1997. Previous rumors had indicated that Toyota would launch the Prius brand much as it had the Scion moniker a few years ago.

Despite the end of Prius-brand discussions, the automaker still has big plans for its line of hybrid vehicles. Autocar reports that a wagon, small MPV (like a minivan, but without sliding doors) and a coupe are all likely additions to the current 5-door hatchback that we all know and love.

Also off the table, at least according to Miguel Fonseca, Toyota managing director in the UK, are lithium ion batteries. Fonseca mimics what we've been hearing from the automaker for the last few years, that lithium ion units aren't quite ready for mass production. Whatever the case, the third-gen Prius is still on target to debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show and is expected to be both larger and more efficient than the outgoing model.

[Source: AutoCar]

Finally! Some actual interesting images of the new 2010 Toyota Prius, along with a couple of videos that we've pasted after the break. We already had a pretty good idea of what the hybrid hatch would look like, but there are a few more details revealed in these new images. We also get to see more shots of the interior, which reveal the huge center console and mid-mounted digital gauge cluster, as well as a few different shots of what will be displayed there. One particularly interesting bit is the key fob, which will have a button to keep the air conditioning active while the car is parked. Our assumption is that the AC will be powered electrically using the roof-mounted solar panels. That's definitely a unique feature that will be particularly useful to those of us who live in sunny and hot climates. Thanks for the tip, Danny!


[Source: Prius Chat]

Toyota and its team of Prius designers have decided to continue on unabated with the agonizingly slow and seemingly meaningless teaser images of its next-gen Prius hybrid. To recap, first we saw the display boot-up screen, which was followed by a random switch and then what appears to be a mind-control device of some kind. Fine, so we made that last part up, but the point is that we really don't know what it is and why it's important, much like this fourth shot that can be seen above. We think that this latest teaser is a front seat, complete with power adjustment of some sort. Forward and back, tilt... secret ejector... not sure. At least we get a mildly interesting look at the door sill plate, which looks stamped from metal with the Prius logo. In any case, we expect to see the real thing live and in person at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

[Source: Prius Chat]

Here's an interesting little tidbit that we ran across today: Auto Express is reporting that Toyota will continue to offer the current-gen Prius alongside its newer version, at least in the UK. The previous car would see its price lowered in response to the upcoming new Insight hybrid from Honda, which is expected to undercut Toyota's seminal hybrid by at least £3,000. If this rumor turns out to be true, expect Toyota to match that price point with its entry-level Prius. We have no idea if this could also be true for other markets, including the U.S.

Reading between the lines a bit, perhaps it would make some sense for current Prius intenders to wait just a bit longer so that they can either get the price break on the current-gen hybrid from Toyota or get the newer model for around the same price. We just have to wonder, assuming that this report is factual, if Toyota had intended to announce it until closer to the time the new Prius goes on sale, which is expected to be around mid-year '09.

[Source: Auto Express]

It's been confirmed by our friends over at Jalopnik that the pictures you see above and in our gallery are in fact shots of the new 2010 Prius, which is set to debut officially at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Clearly, the new car's overall shape was carried over from the current model that began sales in 2004. It's probably a good idea to keep the profile very similar, considering that the Prius has become such an icon of green motoring and is instantly recognizable. What the Japanese auto giant has done is add new details and a bit more of its current design language to the aerodynamic lines of its older siblings. All we have are low-resolution shots to go on for now, so the real test is still ahead as we first lay our eyes on it in person. More to come.


[Source: Jalopnik]

The new 2010 Toyota Prius will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next January along with a Lexus badged derivative. When the third (or fourth depending on whether you count the original U.S. model as a second gen) Prius debuts it will retain the current hybrid setup with a nickel metal hydride battery pack. The gas engine is expected to be updated and grow from the current 1.5L to 1.6L. The five door hatchback body style is also expected to grow a bit although the fuel economy is not expected to suffer. If the rendering produced by Car and Driver is anything to go by, not much of the new Prius design will come from the Hybrid-X concept that Toyota showed at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. In 2010, Toyota will start building a few hundred Priuses with lithium ion batteries and plug-in capability for commercial and government fleet testing. A high volume retail version won't appear until 2011-12.

[Source: Car and Driver]