The last rumors that we got about the 2016 Toyota Prius claimed that the company was preparing to unveil the model at some point towards the end of the year, and not many people were expecting to get any official information about the new Prius soon. However, not only are they apparently getting ready to unveil it in Germany next month, but we’ve also seen a few spy shots of the new model that preview some details about it.
The pictures haven’t been confirmed as genuine so far, and they likely won’t be as the company isn’t very fond of confirming rumors related to leaks about their products, but they do seem quite plausible. The car was concealed by a lot of camouflage though, so it’s not very easy to make out much about its overall design. However, people have quickly noticed the similarity between those spy shots and the car that was previously spotted during some test drives.
It’s been a while since the first time we got an alleged spotting of the car too, so it’s curious to see how the model has changed over time. From what we can tell, it’s still focused on the same general design idea and the little that can be made out from under the camouflage paints an interesting picture for the appearance of this model.
In addition, current rumors claim that the car is going to be presented officially in about a month in Frankfurt, Germany, during the town’s Motor Show event. A lot of attention will be given to the interior design of the car and the kinds of changes that it will introduce in its instruments panel, among other things, and we’re likely going to get a pretty in-depth presentation for the car’s entertainment features.
Rumors claim that it’s a highly digital model, with a lot to offer to those who like to use technology in their everyday lives, with a console that has been made larger and more comfortable to use. The interface has been updated as well, and now gives easier access to the most important features of the model’s software.
However, drivers rarely choose cars based on their infotainment systems alone – the most important feature is of course how well the car is going to run and what kind of performance it’s going to bring to the table. Current rumors are talking about a 1.8 liter gas engine, with an additional electric one capable of outputting 134 bhp, with a fuel efficiency of 76 mpg.
The company will likely offer the car in several different configurations, aimed at those who insist on having an electric engine, as well as drivers who prefer a more classic experience and don’t care so much about going green. The gas models are reportedly going to be as feature-rich as their electric counterparts, so buyers shouldn’t feel left out for choosing to go with gas only.
All in all, the main trend that we can spot in the company’s work on the new model is a move towards more elegance and simplicity. The car is going to become more streamlined and accessible, and a driving experience that anyone can easily get into. The alleged redesign of the interface and the new software capabilities should add a lot to that, and all the company needs to do then is to make sure that they’re offering the new Prius with sufficiently many different configurations to please all of their potential interested buyers.