2011 NAIAS: Toyota Prius c Concept

Alongside the Prius v, Japanese manufacturer Toyota is presenting at the North American International Auto Show the c concept, a model created as a small city-centric hybrid vehicle. Purpose built for active families, the concept will constitute the basis for an entry level, compact hybrid which will be marketed by Toyota in the near future.

The Japanese have not released any details regarding the power train which will go into the vehicle, but given Toyota's appeal for the technology currently used in the Prius, it's not hard to guess that a combination between a smaller Prius platform and the Hybrid Synergy Drive technology will form the heart and soul of the concept.

Visually, the c concept brings a well deserved departure from the now boring lines of the existing Prius, with quite a great deal of aggressiveness packed in this small package. Of course, the production version will likely not look exactly like this, but use these design cues as a starting point for the production version.

Toyota says that some of the technologies currently used in the Prius will make their way into the c concept, without naming any. It's likely the great deal of high tech features presented on the v model will also be part of the smaller class of Prius.

Just as is the case with the other Prius presented today, the c concept will make the transition from design study to the streets rather soon. Toyota plans to launch it in the first half of next year “as the most value-oriented hybrid in the US market with the highest mileage of any cordless hybrid.”