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Toyota has revealed an interior teaser shot of a model that promises to expand upon the Prius lineup (which currently numbers one vehicle) and to entertain "the entire family." Read between the lines, and this is the inside of the upcoming Prius mini-minivan. The image appeared on Toyota Prius Projects, a company website that recounts the history and previews the future of the recognizable hybrid. Visitors to the site gradually assembled puzzle pieces of the image over the last few weeks to create this teaser shot.
Toyota had previously teased the Prius MPV via a billboard (below) showing its outline accompanied by the text, "The Prius family is getting a whole lot bigger." But this was no ordinary billboard: it started life as dozens of real-life puzzle pieces, which were assembled by 100 hybrid fans at a 10th-anniversary celebration for the car in Malibu, California, back in October.
The website promises to post a third teaser photo in December, and says the images are meant to "tide you over until Detroit"; Toyota's PR people confirmed to us that the Prius MPV will bow at the Detroit auto show in January. Consider that puzzle solved.
As for the car itself, our spy shots have already given us a good idea of what to expect on the outside: a Mazda 5–like profile, forward-hinged rear doors, and signature Prius head- and taillight designs. This interior image doesn't reveal much about the family hauler; compared to the current model, the funky shifter has migrated to the left, the engine start/stop button has changed from black to blue, and the climate-control buttons have been slightly rearranged and the display updated. The infotainment system shows Toyota's new iheartradio functionality, a recently announced mobile app from the Clear Channel radio conglomerate which allows drivers to listen to local radio stations regardless from anywhere. Underneath the metal, expect the Prius MPV to use an updated version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, possibly with a larger gasoline engine.
Related posts:
- 2012 Toyota Prius MPV Spy Photos – Future Cars
- Toyota Teases Green (Literally) Dedicated Hybrid Concept Ahead of Detroit Show
- 2009 Toyota Prius – Review
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