More details on rumored Toyota Prius coupe
Toyota's new president admits the automaker needs an excitement-infusion, and to that end – and in order to match the upcoming Honda CR-Z tit-for-tat – Toyota is rumored to be working on a two-door version of the Prius.
The latest reports out of Japan indicate that a shortened, 2+2 Prius-based hybrid sports coupe is under development, packing an uprated version of the 1.8-liter 2ZR-FXE four-cylinder putting out around 134 hp – 36 hp more than in its sedan counterpart. Naturally, Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system will carry over and the additional power boost will have an adverse impact on fuel mileage – albeit a minor one.
If the Prius coupe does come to fruition, expect it to be around 100 mm shorter than the sedan, carry over the standard Prius' interior and debut sometime in mid-2012. Conveniently, there's no word on a name and whether or not the coupe will be sold in the States, but we wouldn't be surprised to find out that this would be a JDM-only affair.
[Source: 7Tune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Mehdi Cheddadi 3:33PM (7/24/2009)
that is sexy! never gonna happen
Reply
naggs 3:55PM (7/24/2009)
the picture has nothing to do with anything
hybrid + sporty = fail
Marc 4:15PM (7/24/2009)
Or hybrid = fail.
The entire concept is ill-conceived. Get a diesel if you want good gas mileage. Get the same (or better) mileage without having to pay for a second drivetrain in your car. Hybrids are just for eco-posers. If they really want to save the planet they would buy a used car that gets decent mileage.
Nozferat 6:22PM (7/24/2009)
What an incredibly DUMB thing to say. Just because it's a hybrid it can't be sporty? What's the matter? 0-60 in 8 seconds isn't quick enough for you? Cornering at 60 MPH on a 40 MPH curve in a hybrid with a chassis and suspension capable of it won't cut it for you?
My 87 GTI was a 9 second car. It was quick enough, was more fun than most cars today that are 3 seconds quicker, got better fuel economy, and was SPORTY.
It's dumb statements like these that stop the progress of hybrids into the mainstream. It's dumb statements like these that most hybrids we have today are boring, dull, and drab.
Hybrids are for eco-posers? Yeah OK...that's why the Prius gets well over 50 MPG and your high fuel economy car barely touches 30.
YOU = FAIL = DUMB
Mehdi Cheddadi 8:17PM (7/24/2009)
Go drive your prius you Eco-hippie.
THIS, IS , AUTO ENTHUSIASM BLOGGGGG!!!!!!!
Rivengle 1:42AM (7/25/2009)
how about the fisker karma? tesla model s? think. people. THINK.
naggs 3:18AM (7/25/2009)
Nozferat, your old GTI = win
2200 lbs? sounds about right
hundreds of pounds in batteries and electric drivetrain is not worth it to recapture some brake energy. by adding that to a fwd car, they are basicaly guaranteing that this and sporty can't exist in the same sentence
we mock it before it exists because we know its a terrible idea doomed to suck turds in idea hell FOREVER!!
naggs 3:02AM (7/26/2009)
Rivengle, full electric is a different story all together
the unprecidented powertrain responsiveness brings something to the table from a performance perspective. the batterys can be placed anywhere and the added weight can be balasted to perfect weight distro and lower the center of gravity.
Nozferat 3:27AM (7/25/2009)
Mehdi Cheddadi,
God you're a closed minded douche.
Nozferat 3:30AM (7/25/2009)
Naggs,
Are you really that dim to think this technology is going to stay the same forever?
As far as FWD sports cars....well..I'm sure all the owners of Renault Clios, Meganes, Acura Type Rs, Civic Type Rs, etc would beg to differ with your ludicrous mentality.
You mock it before exists because you have the brain of a nat.
It's too bad there are so many people like you who have such limited vision from which the idiots in the automotive industry somehow listen to. Hence...here we are.
Raz 3:45AM (7/25/2009)
@ Nozfest
Keep in mind that just because a 9 second car is fast for your doesn't mean its fast in other people's books and manufacturers don't NOT make hybrids based on statements but on research and cost-benefit analysis in both sales and efficiency. Petrol/diesel and electric propulsion by itself are a good ideas. One putting out high mileage while the other produces little to none (direct) environmental impact (do keep in mind how the electricity from the power plugs were generated). When people putting two propulsion systems together things get over complicated. By having 2 systems the car itself is already heavier than it need to be and that already upset the efficiency of both petrol/diesel and electric system. Manufacturing the parts, 2 systems more parts mean more components need to be made and more pollution generated by the manufacturer per hybrid vehicle and where do the lithium battery goes when its done? I am not against building cars that is more friendly to the environment (i.e full electric cars) but hybrids should be a thing from the past when it potentially can produce more indirect pollution than a normal petrol/diesel.
the4thheat 3:54AM (7/25/2009)
@Marc you ever consider that maybe people want to actually drive a new car and not a used car, and that they just want to save money on gas?
And you make it sound like Priuses can't possibly also be sold used. Are you mentally retarded? The only person I know that even owns a Prius bought a used 2005 model, and she's super happy about how much she pays at the pump. Never says anything about saving the environment but she's just happy that her pump bill is $20.
Quit being a retard. Looking at insurance rates and the annual fuel costs it's pretty obvious that lots of people just wanna save money, and somewhat magically you can buy Priuses both used and new depending on whether you want a new or used car...JUST LIKE OTHER CARS. WOW!!!
mortonb11 4:39PM (7/25/2009)
Nozferat...
The point about hybrids being eco posers that you seem to dispute has probably nothing to do with MPG. the fact that the prius' production and transfer from japan to U.S. has the eco footprint of about 5-10 huge "gas guzzling" SUV's is.
take into consideration the nickle mining for the battery (u.s/canada) shipping to korea for refining shipping to japan (production) and back to the u.s for sales. Considering pollution from cars is about 10% of cargo ships this is quite rediculous to call the prius a "green" car.
naggs 3:25AM (7/26/2009)
Nozferat, the major problems with parallel hybrid drive will never go away. the best hybrid systems could ever hope to accomplish for a sportscar are to save some of the braking energy and then get out of the way
i want a rwd car with a motor/generator on the front axel. the front end does most of the braking so that is a must for hybrids to make any sense at all.
just keep it separate from the ICE powertrain. give me a button to put some power down thru the front wheels
is that really so hard
Nozferat 3:27AM (7/26/2009)
So you're saying all the things you didn't give a sh^t about before...such as nickel mining for batteries in all cars, shipping of most cars around the world in large polluting transports, etc.....you now give a sh&t about with the Prius?
Ah I c...you mean you're being a hypocrite. I get it.
csin8282 12:55PM (7/27/2009)
Ha.
that thing looks like the Genesis Coupe.
Quantumphysics 3:34PM (7/24/2009)
Looks like a Genesis Coupe, looks like a ripoff Infiniti G
Reply
Alex 4:14PM (7/24/2009)
Yep. Want some more Genesis with your Prius?
BoxerFanatic 5:49PM (7/24/2009)
Actually, with the roof peak so far forward, it almost looks more like a Nissan Z or GTR in the roofline, or Toyota's previous FT-HS, or whatever their retracto-roof concept car was called a while back...
With a little bit of previous Celica, and generic coupe otherwise.
The squinty headlights, and the line-change in the quarter windows might suggest genesis coupe, but those details don't really look the same.
Not bad. Not particularly memorable, but not bad. But I don't need an economy-car turned expensive hybrid, in a sleek body... I want a performance car in a sleek body.
ryuryuryturtuy 7:14PM (7/24/2009)
looks like a bastard child of a genesis coupe and a ferrari. genesis coupe being the dad of course.