The production-ready Toyota Prius+ MPV and Prius plug-in hybrid have been shown off at the Frankfurt motor show, along with a refreshed Avensis.
The Prius+ will be the first seven-seat full hybrid available in Europe. While the Stateside launch of the five-seat Prius MPV (badged the V) has been delayed until the tail-end of this year, details of the larger seven-seat Prius+ bound for European markets are firming up. The car will use a 1.8-litre petrol engine and lithium-ion battery combination, unlike the V that depends on nickel-metal hydride cells from the previous-generation Prius.
The relatively compact lithium-ion batteries will be located under the second row of seats, helping make space for the third line of pews in the Prius+, which is also set to return a claimed emissions equivalent of under 100g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle.
The plug-in Prius will be significantly cleaner, with a claimed figure that could be as low as 49g/km of CO2.
Details of the revised Avensis range are sketchy, but there will be styling changes, a revised engine line-up and tweaked dynamics. A quality hike has also been promised for the British-built model that’s currently sold in nearly 50 markets. The car’s mid-life shake-up is said to be the most expensive in Toyota’s history.
A three-door version of the third-generation Yaris will also make its first appearance in Frankfurt.
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