Toyota’s Prius is now a popular name across the globe as it was one of the first green cars that went mainstream and even registered record breaking sales. Embarking on that success, Toyota now plans to extend the lineage and the latest addition is the Prius G Sports Concept that was unveiled at the Auto Salon in Tokyo. The concept is blessed with design traits that make the car aerodynamically sound and fuel efficient at the same time. The G concept houses the same 1.8L 4 cylinder engine which is found in standard Prius. Features like a revised bumper and side skirting, LED Daytime running lights and a dual exhaust system is what separates the concept from the basic model. The interior is also a tad different with RECARO sports seats, a revised steering wheel, info display, aluminum pedals and a black piano trim.

Toyota reportedly has a Prius sports wagon or SUV in works, according to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri . The SUV has been rumored to be on paper ever since the Toyota Hybrid X Concept was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. There’s not much going on for now in terms of official details, but we’ll have to speculate that the new models will incorporate a regenerative braking system or a solar roof option. More to it, a plug-in version is also rumored to be in the works, but given the fact that Toyota has failed to comment on any of these, we can only assume that next years motor shows in Europe and in Detroit, in the US, will shred some light. [via Edmunds]

note: image of a Toyota Hybrid X Concept

Tuners don’t spare anything, not even the hybrid cars, which means that the Toyota Prius couldn’t be missed. No one would appreciate toying with the engines for these green babies, therefore Tommy Kaira just took care of the exterior and nothing more. As far as Tommy Kaira is concerned — which by the way thinks there’s life for “eco car tuning”, they integrated the Prius with lower front lips, larger front air dams, and thicker rims. He made the side skirts wider and gave the car a new rear bumper. They also got rid of the Prius logo (not advisable after shelling all that money on a green baby) and attached four tailpipes which makes it guised green beast. Not bad, at all!

One car that is bound to steal the show even at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show will be the Plug-in variant of the Toyota Prius. Prius which is currently the number one hybrid car sold in the world is set for more success with the addition of this variant.

This will debut with the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept so you surely need to be at the ‘Green’ Toyota Camp in Frankfurt. The difference between a regular Prius and the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is the ‘plug-in’ capability. Toyota now wants people to focus on the electric side of the Hybrid Drive Synergy by launching a commuter which is purely electric and can solely manage with electric power for daily, shot-distance, commuting. Following the Frankfurt debut, 150 fleet vehicles will be shipped to a select number of people whilst an extensive field trail will begin in Europe next year.

We’ve wrote about Prius before and if you remember we even got the leaked images of what looks like the 2010 Toyota Prius. Meanwhile, the Japanese waited patiently for this years Detroit Auto Show and got it all unveiled it to the public. Technology improved and the fact that it includes 90% more parts than its predecessor and that the refined hybrid powertrain of the engine, stands evidence. The 50mpg car, is 25% better than the first Prius and some 9% better than the second generation that used to get a 46 mpg rate. With a new engine – a 1.8-liter four cylinder petrol that outputs 98 horsepower and 105 ft-lb of torque, the 2010 Toyota Prius goes from naught to 60mph in 9.8 seconds rather than the 10.5 from its previous version. The improvements are endless, so if you care about the environment you should consider a Prius. Read on for more specs. It doesn’t look bad, is it?

We all know what’s the most successful hybrid of all times: Toyota Prius. But what we don’t enjoy very much is that it has a boring design. Things changed when Claes Gustafson and the crew at Classe’s Garage got their hands on one and created what you can see below for a Swedish TV show. And yes, that’s a Toyota Prius.

Even though the outcome is spectacular, it involved HARD work because there’s no body kit available for the Prius and they had to start with a modified Volvo XC90. They also removed the back doors and installed custom made knife doors for the front, installed a carbon fiber venturi, air suspension, 20-inch wheels and over-sized front brakes.

They didn’t work just on the tech part and the interior got improved, too. It has a central console with a custom dashboard and a 4,400-watt stereo system. However that’s not all because this hardcore Prius also features 15 LCD panels and a tablet PC for Wireless Internet.

“The goal … was to give the viewer a great show and, second, to show that a Toyota isn’t a boring and anonymous car,” Claes Gustafson told Wired. According to him, the whole idea was “to show that every car can be styled.”

It looks stunning and has a price that competes with that: $184,275. Is it worth it?

My biggest concern if all these things can be supported by those 4 batteries.

Via Jalopnik

Hybrid cars are going to be the next best thing, or at least that’s what researchers say. With oil prices reaching record levels it’s really hard to drive a car that consumes 20-25 liters for every 100km.

The best selling hybrid, Toyota Prius has news for us. They’re going to change it and recent spy shots show a newly styled body. It’s longer, wider and has a larger boot, features better fuel economy and rumors say it won’t feature NiMh batteries anymore. But Li-ion, which are lighter and smaller, making it faster and more spacious.

The new Toyota Prius will be official in 2010 and some talk of a two-door coupe, a wagon or a commuter version to enrich the brand.

Image credits: CarPix

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