Toyota will present the new generation Prius in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Lexus will also present their new dedicated hybrid model - a Prius-like, wagon-esque vehicle based on the Prius platform and drivetrain. Source: Motortrend
Could the tires be any lower-profile? Probably solid tires... notice the upper grille holes are now gone. I wonder if this is going to be the PHEV? If not --- yawn. mitch
I'll take two please. Danny, can you set up a group buy for these? I bet the low profile tires are mainly for Concept Car appeal and the real one will have higher tires.
I wouldn't take that picture as being what the actual next-gen Prius will look like. It's one of many floating around out there...
No mention of a source for the Gen III Prius news. With that long of a delay before the next gen Prius, you would think that Toyota would have already released details on the 2009 Prius - similar to what was done a few weeks ago for the 2009 Camry hybrid.
That actually sounds pretty cool. I love wagons and a few more accoutrements wouldn't hurt, either. I am keeping my Prius, though...at least until the wheels fall off :tea:
Well this news is a bit disappointing to say the least. I've just hit 101,919 miles in my 2004 Gen 2 Milennium Silver Prius and have been holding out for the Gen 3 upgrade originally scheduled to be available in early 2009. If the new specs are announced in January 2009, then it's more likely they won't be introduced until at least 2010 or 2011. My track record for repairs has been excellent with nothing major so far. I'm looking forward to keeping things that way until I can trade this one in for an upgrade. If I can't wait until then, I'll probably end up buying whatever form of Prius comes out in 2009.
If they show the production car at the NAIAS in Jan-09 it should be in dealerships by Sep-09. At 25K miles per year, you should have at least another 6 years left before you need to worry.
If that happened, then it would be called an '10, not an '09. I hope your wrong though, becuase we just totaled our prius and bought a jeep wrangler to hold us over until the nex gen is available.
It could just as easily be available in MAY like Camry-Hybrid or JULY like Highlander-Hybrid. In other words, Toyota can offer it anytime they want. Of course, that could also mean later too. .
I'll start believing the Motortrend rumor if the Gen III Prius doesn't turn up at the New York Auto show later this month (March). Press day is March 19th, which certainly isn't too many days from now.
New York was the choice for bringing the Gen 2 Prius out, so it might be chosen for Gen 3. Toyota is always very tight-lipped about what they are bringing to any given show, so anything is possible. Since I only have 89,000 mi on my 2004, I don't plan to trade it for a few years - at 200,000 mi or more. I love this car more than anything I've ever owned in my 40 years of driving.
