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2012 Toyota Prius Minivan: Better Images From Japan, Via Italy!

 
7,857 views Oct 26, 2010
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2012 Toyota Prius Verso small seven-seat minivan

2012 Toyota Prius Verso small seven-seat minivan

Enlarge Photo

Toyota announced a year ago that it would apply the Prius model name not only to the current five-door hatchback, but to other hybrid vehicles as well.

The first of these will be a 2012 Toyota Prius minivan, variously called the Prius Alpha or Prius Verso, though we don't yet know exactly what model name it will carry in the U.S.

We've shown some early renderings scanned from Japanese magazines, but now we have a better photo, from the front three-quarter view (along with a copy of an earlier rear image from a Japanese magazine).

2012 Toyota Prius Verso small seven-seat minivan

2012 Toyota Prius Verso small seven-seat minivan

Enlarge Photo

The Europeans call these small minivans MPVs, for Multi-Purpose Vehicles. Right now, the only vehicle of this size sold in the U.S. is the Mazda5, an all-new version of which will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show this fall.

Ford will also offer the C-Max, a similar-sized vehicle built on the platform of the 2012 Ford Focus compact car, as a 2012 model.

But neither the Mazda nor the Ford will offer a hybrid option, so after a decade of waiting, those Prius owners whose family has expanded can now turn to their Toyota dealers.

The Prius Verso will have seven seats in three rows, but its mechanicals and footprint are unchanged from the current Prius five-door hatchback. The body is both longer and taller to accommodate the third-row seat.

Whether it will be the first Prius fitted with a lithium-ion battery pack, replacing the older nickel-metal-hydride pack, remains to be seen.

The 2012 Toyota Prius small minivan will be formally introduced at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and will arrive at dealers in March.

[Autopareri.com/forum via Autoblog.it]





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Comments (5)

  1. By nogasguzzlers Posted: 10/27/2010 6:19pm PDT

    Toyota has made a big mistake in not having sliding rear doors, which make entry and exit easier. I hope later models will correct that error. The Ford Grand C-max looks to be more attractive, although perhaps not quite as fuel efficient.
     
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  2. By Nelson Lu Posted: 10/28/2010 10:29am PDT

    The assertion that "neither the Mazda nor the Ford will offer a hybrid option" is incorrect. Ford has stated that there will be a hybrid seven-seater C-Max. (See, e.g., http://green.autoblog.com/2010/10/01/ford-tells-paris-c-max-hybrid-plug-in-will-arrive-in-2013/.)
     
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  3. By plcfischer Posted: 11/1/2010 3:35pm PDT

    Ford will have hybrid version of the C-Max for Europe, not the US. I think this is a big mistake for Ford. I am saving for a hybrid MPV and it looks like it will be the Toyota. I would prefer the Grand C-Max, but I do not think my 131000 mile Focus wagon will last long enough for Ford to make the C-Max hybrid available in the US. Too bad for me and Ford.
     
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  4. By Gojino Posted: 11/18/2010 8:57am PST

    I don't need 7 seats in a car this size, 5 is more than enough, 7 adults would add too much weight to the suspension and you would bottom out on bumps like other Toyota's I have had
     
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  5. By RWCole Posted: 12/20/2010 8:39am PST

    These cars should seat six in my opinion- Remove the silly console and put in a front bench seat with drop down armrests with cupholders.
    Three in the front- three in the back- six in a pinch and no silly back seats that no one will use anyway.
    Many of us want a mini van not because we have a herd of rugrats, but because we sometimes have to carry a lot of stuff- or pick up a load of guests at the airport- and we want very good gas mileage.
    Are you listening out there?
     
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