http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...iew/index.html


Toyota is developing a range of Priuses that will include a small pickup based on the 2008 A-BAT concept and a sporty, 2+2 coupe to compete with Honda's upcoming CRZ hybrid coupe. The Prius coupe will have a lower roofline than that of the all-new 2010 Prius hatchback sedan launching this year and will share its powertrain.

 

ummm...YUCK.

Its a cross betwee, the first gen subaru B9 Tribeca, Tundra, Rigdeline, Aztec and the ultimate automotive failure...the Isuzu VehiCross...



the coupe on the other hand...Nice!

 

While the coupe is just a rendering (and has like 25" wheels), it does share strong similarity to the 2010 Prius that we have seen. I think that such an idea would be very cool and looks very good in their photo.

As far as the A-BAT...I wonder how a hybrid system would handle moderate hauling and light off road duty. I remember there being some serious warnings about taking a RX 400h offroad because the freely spinning tires could overheat the batteries, or something to that effect.

 

Not feeling the pickup, but the coupe definitely has potential

 

it doesnt make sense to create the pickup...

 

I'll see if I can find the link but there was a rumor in some biz journal that Toyota was preparing to spin Prius off into its own line, ala Scion. I assume they would be the repository of all things hybrid for the sub Lexus customer. On that basis, I would have to assume pick up and SUV, probably in multiple sizes, would be a certainty. I don't want to be in the position of defending a rumor in an article that I don't have in front of me but the rumor was that Scion would fold. That might be where the comment in the MT article is starting to blend Prius and Scion.

The automotive landscape is changing and its anyone's guess how this is going to play out in the future.

 

More instantaneous "torque" with a hybrid.

I think a hybrid is understandable for ease of acceleration of heavy loads. But to haul hitched items may be inefficient, because of the lack of top end power to continue to move the heavy loads.

You'll still need a big engine to efficiently move the load forward. So, a V6+hybrid engine such that of the Highlander is still necessary for a functional pick-up truck.

 

coupe looks good.. what's with the lobster claw headlights? is this the new trend?
doesn't look too bad though

 

I like that rendering of the coupe!!! Looks better than the Scion tC!

 

if they made a small, light weight pickup that achieved 50mpg, they'd sell a million of them.

 

Prius coupe rendering looks promising , the other one looks awful

 

Gotta agree, that coupe is really nice, but the pickup? Well . . . maybe it has a nice personality.

A hybrid for light pickup and delivery duty would be nice - a little short-hop vehicle for a pharmacy or office supply deliveries could take real advantage of that urban stop-and-go efficiency. Forget hauling anything bigger than a couple boxes of paper, though, you load it down; you'll kill it. Forget offroad too, the A-BAT, even if delivered as a 4WD, wouldn't hack any trailbusting beyond a trip across the front lawn. It's more than just spinning a wheel, in off road terminology, that's called the "self-burying feature".

They really need to re-think that front end, though - did somebody melt a ridgeline?

 

Oooo, I like the idea of a Prius 2 door.

 

Im all for the Prius Coupe!

 

The Prius coupe actually looks pretty decent!