Purported 2016 Toyota Prius, Prius PHEV leaked ahead of premiere - Report

The Prius opts for a Mirai-inspired design.

According to Autonet, these are the first images of the next generation 2016 Toyota Prius and the Toyota Prius PHEV. The regular Prius Hybrid is expected to premiere later in the year, while the PHEV should be announced sometime next year.

The publication states that the Prius in Blue with a more conventional design is the PHEV variant, whereas the Green-colored one is the regular Hybrid. A dimensional image, which puts the 2016 Prius at 4,550 mm in length, 2,700 mm in wheelbase, 1,490 mm in height and 1,770 mm in width, is inline with an earlier report as well.

Based on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture), the new Prius is reported to have lost 30 kg in overall weight, with a kerb weight of only 1,280 kg for the Hybrid and 1,350 kg for the PHEV.

With a best-in-industry thermal efficiency of 40 percent, the Prius Hybrid is expected to be pegged at 40 km/l whereas the PHEV could see a figure of 70 km/l in the Japanese JC08 driving cycle. Further, the Prius PHEV with an electric range of 50 km, could have a total range of 1,000 km the publication suggests.

Both, the Prius and the Prius PHEV will get a new eCVT gearbox paired to a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. The combined system output for the Hybrid is expected in the range of 145-150 PS.

Also read: 2016 Toyota Fortuner to world premiere on July 17

Buoyed by the success of the Camry Hybrid, TKM (Toyota Kirloskar Motor) could introduce the 2016 Prius in the country within 12-18 months from its global premiere. Given the government of India's FAME (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) incentive policy, TKM could also consider assembly of the Prius at its Karnataka plant.

[Source - Autonet]