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Coupe To Join Expanded Prius Lineup, Perhaps Even Minivan

 
2,429 views Oct 29, 2009
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2010 Toyota Prius

2010 Toyota Prius

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It's long been the dream of Toyota's U.S. arm that the company would add additional body styles to the Prius line. And Toyota finally gave the nod to that idea earlier this year.

Now, details are starting to emerge on the new models that will join the all-new, third-generation 2010 Toyota Prius, currently sold only as a five-door hatchback.

One of the new body styles will apparently be a two-door coupe, specifically meant to target the upcoming 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe.

The British magazine Autocar reports that the new Prius coupe is to use the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine as the current Prius hatchback, but will be lighter and more aerodynamic.

Given that the hatchback 2010 Prius has a drag coefficient of 0.25, a new Prius coupe might best the single most aerodynamic production car in the world, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe (at 0.24).

And that might give it fuel economy even better than the Prius hatchback's current 50-mpg rating.

2009 Honda Skydeck Concept

2009 Honda Skydeck Concept

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Also coming is a Prius minivan, which is expected to compete with a production version of the Honda Skydeck hybrid minivan concept shown at the recent Tokyo Motor Show.

Whether this will be sold in the States is less clear, since Toyota hasn't offered the smaller minivans it sells elsewhere--about the size of a 2010 Mazda Mazda5 model--in the U.S. thus far.






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Comments (3)

  1. By Luke Posted: 11/1/2009 8:08am PST

    A Prius-like minivan about the size of the Mazda 5 would be great!
    I'd prefer a plug-in vehicle, of course, but if I can't afford one or if the family grows quickly, it might just be a great choice.
     
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  2. By  accessories Posted: 12/29/2009 8:27pm PST

    The Prius line will be further expanded with a small minivan, similar in size to the 2010 Mazda Mazda5 model. The Mazda van is one entire car class smaller than the 2010 Toyota Sienna that ranks among the top minivans sold in the U.S.
     
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  3. By  nike sb dunks Posted: 4/21/2010 11:35pm PDT

    they are very good and useful!!!
     
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