The fifth generation of the Toyota Prius, the iconic hybrid car, will be a reality. A generational change scheduled for the end of 2022 will bring with it very important news. The Toyota model will raise its commitment to sustainable mobility and betting on hydrogen.
The Toyota Prius is a true icon of electrification. It is the model that marked the beginning of the era of hybridization at Toyota. An electrified vehicle that has garnered extraordinary sales figures worldwide. Its commercial success allowed the Japanese manufacturer to give life to a true family of hybrid cars that we enjoy today. However, it has come from suffering a comprehensive renovation.
At the end of 2018, the long-awaited mid-cycle update of the current generation, the fourth, was presented to society. A facelift that presented numerous novelties and that has been key for the fourth generation to face the rest of the commercial life that lies ahead. Toyota is aware that the Prius has lost ground in key markets such as North America due to “SUV fever.” That is why it has started up all the machinery to carry out the development of a new generation.
From the distant and exotic Japan, new information has emerged about what the next generational change in the Prius range will be like. The design and development process for the fifth generation is already underway. It will maintain its commitment to Toyota’s successful hybrid technology. However, this model wants to go one step further and also be another benchmark for the Japanese company in the field of hydrogen.
The Toyota Prius 2023 will bet on the hydrogen combustion engine. The “hot hydrogen” or H2-ICE is called to play a leading role and Toyota is aware of this. The colossus of the Japanese auto industry has already done very important tests in this field using a Toyota Corolla Sport as a base and the 1.6-liter gasoline engine used by the GR Yaris.
The possibility of fueling a suitably modified internal combustion engine with hydrogen opens up a whole range of possibilities in this era of sustainable mobility that we are entering at an accelerating pace. However, it will still take a few years to complete the development of this technology and apply it to a production vehicle such as the Prius.
The Toyota Prius 2023 will continue betting on hybridization
Currently, the Prius is only available in the Spanish market with plug-in hybrid mechanics. The self-charging hybrid version was replaced to further reduce the average emissions of the Toyota range. However, the new model will be presented in partnership with a mechanical hybrid (HEV) as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
When will it hit the market? If nothing goes wrong, the fifth generation Prius will be in front of us in December 2022. So we won’t see it in showrooms until 2023. The hydrogen version of the Prius is scheduled to see the light of day around the year 2025.
