All About Japan Autos

At the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the Toyota Prius c, a smaller version of the current Prius, and the Prius V, a larger model. At the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, Toyota will add two more Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles to its growing list of green cars, but the press isn’t sure if either model will hit US shores.

The first is the Yaris HSD concept. “Besides the hybrid powertrain, we don’t know much about this next-generation Yaris. It definitely looks sleeker, that’s for sure,” says Kicking Tires. “Judging from the teaser shot, the Yaris hybrid doesn’t look much like the Prius C concept that we saw at the 2011 Detroit auto show. Toyota has said that it wants a smaller Prius-branded vehicle for the U.S., so right now we’re unsure if this is coming to the States or if we’ll have to wait for a production Prius C.” If the Yaris HSD makes it to production, it will be the smallest Toyota with a Hybrid Synergy Drive System.

The second is the Prius+ concept. “The Prius+, aimed primarily at European customers, appears to be a seven-passenger companion to the Prius V concept that was introduced at last month’s Detroit show,” Inside Line reports. “Toyota has released a teaser showing only a small corner of the vehicle, saying the production version will have the lowest fuel consumption of any seven-passenger MPV on the market.”

After the Detroit Auto Show, there was a lot of buzz about the Prius c and Prius V, so the debut of these concepts may seem a bit anticlimactic. “In the wake of the 2011 Detroit auto show’s unveiling of the compact Prius C and larger Prius V concepts, the compact Yaris HSD and larger Prius+ concepts seem like a bit of déjà vu,” says CNET. “However, the upcoming Prius+ will seat seven passengers versus the V’s five, and will likely feature an extended wheelbase, creating a vehicle form factor that’s more small minivan than wagon.”

If either of these hybrids, especially the Yaris, makes it to the United States, shoppers in search of a small hybrid that’s great for the city have a lot to look forward to. Currently, the most efficient hybrid on the market is the Toyota Prius. But if Toyota is able to tweak the Toyota Yaris’s exterior styling and safety ratings, it could have a winner on its hands. Plus, it’s likely that the Yaris could have the best fuel economy ratings in the industry because it will be smaller than the current Toyota Prius and the Prius c concept, which Toyota says should get 51/48 mpg city/highway. The Yaris should also cost less than $20k. If these predictions come to pass, budget and eco minded shoppers will have a great hybrid option.

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