Insideline

DETROIT — Exterior and interior images of the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius have been posted at Priuschat.com and subsequently snapped up around the blogosphere.

Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister on Thursday morning confirmed for Inside Line the authenticity of the images, and said they were "accidentally leaked." He added, "More details at the Detroit show."

The car's formal unveiling is slated for January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The new Prius will face off against the Honda Insight, which was introduced last month at the Paris show and also goes on sale next year as a 2010 model. Look for the Insight to be priced from $2,000-$3,000 below the Prius.

The 2010 Prius will be fitted initially with nickel-metal-hydride batteries, but is expected to switch to lithium-ion batteries within a year or two. The car's four-cylinder gas engine is expected to get a modest bump in displacement, from 1.5 to 1.6 liters, with more power, but better fuel economy.

Inside Line says: Judging from the evolutionary styling of the new car, Toyota isn't about to mess with a winning formula. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

Edited October 16, 200817 yr by smallchevy

Headlamp washers? It's a Prius.

Looks like it could be photoshopped, but hard to tell. It certainly could be real though.

The Toyota pig snout is present and accounted for.

I'm shocked that the higher ups at Toyopet have not done

away wit the pigsnout.... who thinks it looks anything other

than hideous, although at least it matches the rest of that

ugly steaming pile of garbage.

The greenhouse almost looks carryover.

Bump

I don't mind the front, but the sides are still too slab-sided. I'd rather save money and get the better-looking Insight.

Interesting that no one who replied compared it to the Volt...

Edited October 16, 200817 yr by ZL-1

oy, that dash is horrible.

Interesting that no one who replied compared it to the Volt...

Well, it's going to be out long before the Volt, so it's a moot point to compare them for a couple of years...

Weak Mid-Cycle Refresh at best.

I'm assuming alot of people don't comment on the Prius's LOOKS, because that sure isn't what sells the car.

Anybody who actualy thinks a Prius looks GOOD, as it is now, or this tweaking, really needs to look at the car objectively again.

It's ugly.

As far as an actual vehicle evaluation, the MPG numbers have been fudged in the past, have they not? It's hard to evaluate a vehicle based on lies also...

It's a hybrid import of not much interest to me.

Edited October 16, 200817 yr by CMG

Man, that's it? After all the hype, I was expecting a lot more. The interior sucks, and the exterior looks like they just grafted a Corolla nose on a Prius.

Honda and Chevy will own this thing. It's like they didn't even try.

Honda and Chevy will own this thing.

Maybe, more power to them.

I know that I sure won't.

I'm assuming alot of people don't comment on the Prius's LOOKS, because that sure isn't what sells the car.

Anybody who actualy thinks a Prius looks GOOD, as it is now, or this tweaking, really needs to look at the car objectively again.

It's ugly.

As far as an actual vehicle evaluation, the MPG numbers have been fudged in the past, have they not? It's hard to evaluate a vehicle based on lies also...

It's a hybrid import of not much interest to me.

The Prius is not about styling, or gas mileage...it's about being clean and green, and the image of that.

Edited October 17, 200817 yr by moltar

The Prius is not about styling, or gas mileage...about being clean and green, and the mage of that.

That is what it has become. Toyota might have had good intentions to bring the vehicle in, but it has become celebrity and status symbol.

A clean and green IMAGE maybe, but it's environmental footprint should include the batteries, and manufacture of them as well as the eventual disposal.

Pretty big footprint if ya ask me....

but it has become celebrity and status symbol.

LOL

To whom?

"celebrity and status symbol"? Prius?

This is one cowboy who ain't buying THAT snake oil.

LOL

To whom?

"celebrity and status symbol"? Prius?

This is one cowboy who ain't buying THAT snake oil.

Whom> Let us see enviro terrorists, ultra liberal nuts, Kim Gandy and folks, Consumer Report et. al, Hollywood wannabes. Oh wait a minute you live in Canada, nevermind.

Whom> Let us see enviro terrorists, ultra liberal nuts, Kim Gandy and folks, Consumer Report et. al, Hollywood wannabes. Oh wait a minute you live in Canada, nevermind.

I know a lot of techies that have Priuses also... because of it's high tech nature, it has high geek cred. We will see if the Volt has similar appeal w/ my demographic in a couple of years.

Edited October 17, 200817 yr by moltar

As for my choice, I am going to spell relief either VOLT or TDI.

Chris

The Volt looks even better... Could they have ruined this thing even more? They just keep getting uglier.

insight should have no prob walking all over this. we'll be seein 0 percent on the prius!

The Volt looks even better... Could they have ruined this thing even more? They just keep getting uglier.

This refresh is indeed terrible, I would agree.

Chris

Bash me for my styling tastes all you want, but I never thought the Prius was ugly at all, and I think this is an improvement. I don't see this "pig snout" you are referring to; the new 7-series and G3, they have pig snouts.

Not saying that I LIKE the car or would ever buy one, but that's just because it's a Toyota, not because of its looks.

Edited October 18, 200817 yr by §carlet §wordfish

It reminds me of some sort of Hyundai Accent mutant. I actually enjoy the current Prius, our replacement may be another current generation Prius.