Toyota’s new mystery hybrid model could be the next-gen Prius

At a quarter of a century old, Toyota’s Prius hybrid has already been overtaken by other models both within its stable and from other marques. By the looks of it, the Japanese automaker could be looking to revitalize the Prius to make it more competitive again.

The reveal is just a few days away

A series of teaser images uploaded by Toyota to its social media channels hint at the possibility of a fifth-generation Prius coming before the year ends, featuring the phrase “Hybrid Reborn” and setting the date for November 16, 2022. A C-shaped headlamp and what appears to be a rear quarter panel are shown, along with a white silhouette of the car cast against a black background.        

This comes on the heels of Toyota’s bZ3 electric sedan launch as a Chinese exclusive to join the global bZ4X electric crossover. But assuming that this is indeed the next-generation Prius, the vehicle is not expected to be part of Toyota’s bZ (Beyond Zero) lineup as it does not feature full electric propulsion.     

The teaser confirms that this is not a battery electric model 

There is speculation that the new Prius will be available both as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid model, while another rumor claims that it will also offer a hydrogen-powered version by 2025. The latter would be in keeping with Toyota’s steadfast commitment to keep hydrogen propulsion as part of its efforts towards sustainable mobility.  

Starting out as a four-door hybrid sedan in 1997, the Toyota Prius eventually settled for the familiar five-door liftback body style. As the world’s first mass-market hybrid, it is largely credited in the industry as being successful in making hybrid powertrains more mainstream. 

The Toyota Prius is the world's first mass-market hybrid 

Currently spanning four generations, the Prius sold a peak of 236,655 units in 2012 for the U.S. market, where it has been among the best fuel economy vehicles available since its introduction in 2001. As of 2016, a total of 6.1 million Prius units have been sold worldwide. Toyota has since used the Prius as a template for electrifying a number of its combustion models. 

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