Toyota New Prius C / Aqua Dedicated Hybrid Hatchback

It's finally here – Toyota's new standalone hybrid hatchback model that will be sold as the Aqua in Japan and as the Prius c in the rest of the world.

With the Prius C, Toyota expands its lineup of Prius-badged hybrid models that already includes the regular Prius, the new plug-in Prius PHEV and the Prius V minivan. The new five-door hatchback model takes its place as the base model of the Prius family.

At 3,995mm (157.3-in.) long, 1,695mm (66.7-in.) wide, and 1,445mm (56.9-in.) tall with a wheelbase of 2,550mm (100.4-in.), the Prius C is marginally bigger than the latest generation of the Yaris (153.5" long, 66.7" wide, and 59.4" tall with a 98.8" wheelbase).

The Prius C features a compact and lightweight hybrid system that combines a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a high-output electric motor.

While Toyota did not release any other details, a leaked Japanese brochure reveals that in the JDM [Japanese Domestic Market] model, the 1.5-liter petrol unit produces 74HP at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm (81.9 lb-ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm, with the electric motor chipping in up to 61HP and 169Nm (125 lb-ft). In JDM tune, the hybrid system's combined output is 100HP.

Toyota said that it expects the U.S.-market Prius C to return a fuel economy better than 50 mpg (equal to 4.7lt/100km) in the city, which it says is the "highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle".

In Japan, the Aqua will have a fuel efficiency of 35.4 km/L (~ 83.3 mpg US or 2.8lt/100km) under the JC08 test cycle and 40 km/L (94 mpg US or 2.5lt/100 km) under the 10-15 test cycle.

Prices will be announced later, but Toyota said it will be offered "at an attractive price" in the U.S. Standard features will include Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, steering-wheel audio controls, and nine airbags while the firm's new Entune multimedia system will also be available.

The Aqua will make its world premiere at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show at the end of November and go on sale in Japan in late December, while the Prius C will debut at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show in mid-January with U.S. sales to start in spring.

NEW TOYOTA PRIUS C NORTH AMERICA

NEW TOYOTA AQUA JAPAN