2011 Detroit Auto Show: Toyota Prius C Compact Hybrid Concept

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2011 Detroit Auto Show: Toyota Prius C Compact Hybrid Concept

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Toyota Prius C Concept launch press conference, 2011 Detroit Auto Show

HI-RES GALLERY: Toyota Prius C Concept launch press conference, 2011 Detroit Auto Show

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As part of the family of four Toyota Prius hybrids that the carmaker unveiled at the today's Detroit Auto Show, it showed a concept for a new, compact Prius hatchback.

Low, edgy, and relatively sleek for a highly aerodynamic Kamm-tailed car, the Prius C concept is actually Toyota's second concept on the compact hybrid theme, the first being the lime-green FT-CH Concept that was unveiled at the same show last year.

Toyota FT-CH hybrid concept car, 2010 Detroit Auto Show

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The Prius C Concept is still only a styling exercise, but watch for Toyota to launch a production version of the car sometime during the first half of 2012.

Like the Prius V multipurpose vehicle that will go on sale as a 2012 model, the company says the Prius C responds to its customers' desire for Prius fuel efficiency and design in different packages.

Stay on top of all of the happenings at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show through our show page, where we're bringing you the latest news, previews, live photos, videos, and more straight from Cobo Hall.

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Comments (3)

Neil Blanchard Posted: 1/11/2011 7:42am PST

I would like it a lot more if the rear wheel track was narrowed (a la EV1), and I think the earlier FT-CH rims were more aerodynamic than these. But these are concept wheels -- notice that they are mirror image on the two sides of the car? That costs way too much to do in production, so hopefully they go to a symmetrical design that is very smooth and flat.
There are several indicators that it could weigh a lot less than typical cars: check out the mesh seats (though who knows if this will survive to production). And the Toyota 1/X that was the precursor to the FT-CH which is the car this Prius C is based on -- weighed just 926 pounds curb weight!
The rear has the hard chines in the right place for a good Kamm back. Notice too, the air exhaust vents on the back -- this would greatly improve the air flow through the car, and help fill in the low pressure zone at the back of the car -- similar to Aptera.
I hope the drivetrain is something like:
plugin with at least a 6kWh lithium pack

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jay corrales Posted: 1/12/2011 10:17am PST

Whatcha think of this concept??

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Bob Posted: 1/27/2011 1:39pm PST

926 pounds... Hmmm. I just had a teenage girl turn left in front of me and WHAM, our vehicles met. I was driving my wife's minivan - about 4100 pounds and this girl was driving a Chevy Aveo. The minivan is now a microvan and the Aveo is dead too. I don't see someone in a 926 pound car surviving an accident like that. Maybe it's the Japanese method of birth control?

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