The 2016 Toyota Mirai is getting a major launch just before this week's Los Angeles Auto Show.

It's clear Toyota considers this a vehicle every bit as seminal as its very first Prius hybrid of 1997.

The Prius comparisons came regularly during a day of presentations yesterday, and then again this morning during a one-hour test drive of the new Toyota model.

DON'T MISS: 2016 Toyota Mirai Priced At $57,500, With $499 Monthly Lease

We'll have that drive report in the next few days, but we thought we'd share some of our first photos of the Mirai fuel-cell vehicle out in the wild.

Its looks, like those of the Prius, tend to be polarizing--and we certainly saw a number of other drivers looking at it on city streets and at freeway speeds.

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

The shape, according to Toyota executives, is meant to symbolize the change of air from the atmosphere into water vapor (once it's combined with hydrogen).

We'll let you decide whether you think the shape accomplishes that goal.

ALSO SEE: 2016 Toyota Mirai Power-Out Jack Could Run Your Home In Emergencies

You can see all of our coverage on the 2016 Mirai news page. Meanwhile, check out the cars, concepts, photos, video, and more on our Los Angeles Auto Show news page.

Toyota provided airfare, lodging, and meals to enable High Gear Media to bring you this first-person report.

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