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
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