Detroit Preview: Toyota teases new hybrid concept vehicle

Toyota, the Undisputed Heavyweight Hybrid Champion of the World, has just announced that it will unveil a new gas-electric concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show next month. Beyond that, details are decidedly scarce. As a dedicated model, this apparently won't be a hybridized version of a current Toyota model but a new vehicle entirely, and, judging by the two teaser images released with the announcement, it doesn't appear to be quite like anything the automaker has shown us before.

With that out of the way, let's speculate a bit. We've been hearing that Toyota is considering expanding its Prius range with both a sporty coupe and a roomier wagon, so this could be a conceptual version of one of those models. Or not. We'll find out for sure on January 11 when we point our own DSLR lenses at the concept in Detroit. In the meantime, feel free to hit the jump for the extremely brief press release and peruse the two high-res teaser images in our gallery below.

[Source: Toyota]

PRESS RELEASE:

Toyota to Debut Dedicated Hybrid Concept at 2010 North American International Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., December 14, 2009 - - Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. will stage the world debut of a new dedicated hybrid concept vehicle during the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The vehicle will be revealed during a news conference held on Monday, January 11th in the Riverview Ballroom at COBO Hall. News conference schedules are being finalized and exact timing will be revealed in the coming weeks.