Toyota Prius gets visual makeover from Tommi Kaira
Tommi Kaira Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Without actually, you know, tuning anything on the powertrain of the 2010 Toyota Prius, Japanese tuning company Tommi Kaira has unveiled its tarted-up version of the third-generation iconic hybrid.
The efficient sleekness of the original front end has been replaced by a new front lip spoiler and air intakes, and the 2010 Prius' new vertical front lights get emphasized in the Tommi Kaira version, which somehow sort of works for us. The backside features a new bumper and a quad-pipe exhaust system, which sends a confusing mixed message for a car that's obviously green. Tommi Kaira has also added larger wheels and lowered the ride height for a driveway-averse stance.
No word yet on how much the package costs, but if we're going to spend extra money on a Prius, we sort of want it to go towards upping the mpg capabilities even further.
Gallery: Toyota Prius tuned by Tommi Kaira
[Source: Tommi Kaira]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ray 11:32AM (9/29/2009)
I don't like the Prius for many, many reason. But that looks pretty cool.
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zamafir 11:46AM (9/29/2009)
Yeah, it works very well. just swap the engine for something with balls and have at the track... that is the reason for a lower valance like that right? downforce? track? oh. wait. wait. nm. err... at least it looks good?
James Sonne 11:52AM (9/29/2009)
The reason for a low front spoiler is due to the Venturi effect (I believe that's the name), in which the relative decrease in pressure from less air below the vehicle results in a vacuum that sucks the car to the surface of the road at speed ... really only meaningful if the car has a flat underbody.
Aside from that, a front spoiler really only increases the drag coefficient, resulting in lower efficient and decreased top speed. So it's a trade-off: downforce for efficiency. You really need to design valences for a specific track, because the average speed at each track really determines how effective each design is.
I would not want this for my Prius, if I owned one.
James Sonne 11:54AM (9/29/2009)
Well, and at city traffic speeds, which is what the Prius excels at, these air-routing bits are only increasing downforce by the weight of the piece that's clipped on, so it really would have little if any measurable effect in city traffic efficiency.
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com 1:57PM (9/29/2009)
but can it play Crysis?
DOUG G 11:33AM (9/29/2009)
isnt it TommY Kaira? and it looks great!
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ToroQ3000 2:08AM (9/30/2009)
"y" when translating to English, is very different: it's not used as a vowel, so it's misleading to say "Tommy Kaira." From a translation point-of-view, it should be "Tommi Kaira" which sounds more like "To'mi Kaira," not "Taumee." I'm not really sure how they do say it, themselves, or how they market it. When I first saw their name as Tommy Kaira, it was in GT4 and really confused me haha.
Dave 11:33AM (9/29/2009)
Yaris S, Corolla S, and now Prius S. Continuing the longstanding Toyota tradition of cheap clip-on body work on boring, budget cars. I love the quad-exhaust, though. Must sound like someone is passing gas in a bathtub at full-throttle.
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Nateb123 12:36PM (9/29/2009)
I think you're a bit confused. This was done by a tuning company, not Toyota. It's not a model you can buy from the factory. And that pretty much makes your whole post moot.
Dave 1:44PM (9/29/2009)
Um, no it doesn't. I know Tommy Kaira is a tuner company, I'm just saying this looks like a Prius S would if they had made one. Lay off the haterade.
Quan 2:23PM (9/29/2009)
This cannot continue "long-standing Toyota tradition" when it isn't done by Toyota. So like the other poster correctly stated, your post is pointless. Go sip your haterade by yourself.
JDM Life 5:04PM (9/29/2009)
dave...your the hater =P
Chris 5:09PM (9/29/2009)
Well, Dave, you made me laugh! Just like I do every time I see an aforementioned Corolla S!
Dave 5:42PM (9/29/2009)
Alright, I take it back. It's a HOMAGE to the long-standing Toyota tradition of making stupid body kits for &*() cars. Just because I'm "wrong" doesn't mean the Corolla S isn't garbage.
Rock Singer 11:36AM (9/29/2009)
Wouldn't want to go over any pot holes with this makeover !!
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Anthony 8:57PM (10/01/2009)
Move from where pot holes are, ie places with harsh winters and heavy rain otherwise.. Problem solved....
Even though the ground moves in Southern California, the roads are amazingly better. Having driven a truck in all 48 states I KNOW THIS well.
Like the Mugen Insight shown about a month go, I like the Tommy K Pirus, I'd rock it, its only for looks, not to improve aero dynamics, aero drag or add any downforce.
There is no reason why you can't personalize this things to look sporty. At least its better than the "Real Flame" job I saw on one in Santa Monica not too long ago...
More than few are showing up with 17-18" wheels as well, I'm sure that has an effect (tiny) on mileage but it looks FAR better. I don't think anybody thought this car would only be bought by self-righteous earthers....
Blown tranny 11:42AM (9/29/2009)
I guess it looks good if you are into that kind of thing... Until people realize it's a Prius and start laughing.
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Ray 11:50AM (9/29/2009)
That's why I like it so much. I'm very anti-bodykit, on anything. But this actually looks very well done and very well thought out. It's a body kit, but doesn't have any of the ridiculousness of one. The only thing I would change is right by the front wheels, get rid of that huge difference where the bumper cover attaches, smooth that out and blend it in better, and it would be great.
the4thheat 10:24PM (9/29/2009)
Pfft, just wait you're next to my Prius with a built-up electric motor (300% more copper coils baby)-it spins up nice and smooth at 1200Volts. And of course I didn't leave the battery pack just putting out 200Volts. I got 500V of lithium ion power running through upgraded fuses and power lines and of course all the controller boards needed to stop all this upgraded power from frying the other stuff.
OK obviously I'm kidding but it would be pretty neat if/when people start tuning the electric side of things. More than Toyota has to date anyway with their high voltage prototypes.
Level 5 11:44AM (9/29/2009)
I could see this at a Japanese tuner show all day. Not my style, but there is absolutely a buyer for this.
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