The common-or-garden Toyota Prius entered its fifth generation with a much more aggressive-looking design than its predecessors, and designers took benefit of the brand new look to provide the hybrid the Gazoo Racing remedy. The mannequin is an idea, nevertheless, and its drivetrain is unchanged.
Solely the quickest and strongest members of the Toyota vary obtain the Gazoo Racing (GR) emblem; the Supra, the GR86, the GR Corolla, and the GR Yaris offered abroad all fall beneath the sub-brand’s umbrella. Seeing the Prius be part of the ranks of GR-branded fashions would have been fully unthinkable 5 years in the past, and it reveals how far the hybrid phase’s poster little one has come when it comes to design.
The outside receives many of the modifications. Toyota added a carbon fiber hood to save lots of weight, redesigned headlights, and a full body kit that provides canards on the entrance bumper, aspect skirts, a sizeable rear wing (on a Prius!), and a rear diffuser. The 18-inch wheels sit additional out thanks partially to a wider suspension system. We’re informed that these updates make the Prius extra aerodynamic whereas enhancing traction.
Inside images have not been launched, and Toyota did not have a lot to say about what the idea appears to be like like on the within. The agency additionally did not publish technical specs, which suggests (however does not affirm) that it is customary Prius fare beneath the sheet metallic. If you happen to’re ready for an all-wheel-drive Prius powered by the GR Corolla’s 300-horsepower three-cylinder engine, you may possible be disenchanted.
Energy for the inventory Prius comes from a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain (you knew that already, after all) that consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electrical motor. The 2 energy sources develop 194 horsepower, which is an enormous enchancment over the last-generation mannequin’s 121-horsepower ranking however not sufficient to unlock a sizzling hatch-like power-to-weight ratio. All-wheel-drive provides a second motor and will increase horsepower to 196, whereas the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime gives a 220-horsepower drivetrain due to an even bigger electrical motor.
Toyota claims it developed the idea, whose full identify is Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Version, to rejoice 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Plans to deliver the mannequin to manufacturing have not been introduced, and we do not know what the long run holds for it.
Associated video:
