Toyota confirms leaked photos of new Prius

by Stevie Smith - Oct 20 2008, 13:00

With German automaker BMW this week unveiling its eco-friendly and all-electric Mini E two-seater, Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has confirmed the authenticity of pictures recently leaked to the Internet claiming to be the latest edition of its popular Prius hybrid range.

Toyota confirms leaked photos are the new 2010 Prius. Image: Priuschat.com

While some online sources continue to debate whether the selection of photos posted by Priuschat.com are the result of a genuine leak or merely part of a carefully orchestrated viral campaign, Toyota has stepped from the shadows and rubber stamped the pictures well ahead of the 2010 model’s official rollout.Not expected to receive its industry debut until the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this coming January, the third-generation edition of Toyota’s Prius looks not dissimilar to the current model and is seemingly set to evolve the line as opposed to reinvent it.According to FOXNews, while the new model appears to retain much of the same distinctive body shape the Prius has become synonymous with, it has lost an element of its characteristic slab-sided and slope-nosed aesthetic in favour of body detailing more closely associated with other Toyota cars such as the Matrix and Corolla.While Toyota is currently playing its specification cards very close to its eco-chest, the heavyweight manufacturer has said the new 2010 Prius hybrid will come equipped with a larger, more comfortable cabin and will deliver even better gas mileage than its acclaimed stablemate.Speculation connected to the 2010’s engine setup suggests the new Prius will come equipped with an upgraded 1.6 litre version pushing 120 and 125 horse power. The current Prius runs on a 1.5 litre engine creating some 110 horse power.Also, Toyota has said the 2010 model will launch with nickel-metal-hydride batteries but will eventually be switched out for lithium-ion technology.Top image included, the leaked photos are as follows:

Image: Priuschat.com

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Toyota confirms leaked photos of new Prius

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