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Upcoming Toyota Prius Coupe to wear Italian design

tryme submitted on 8/24/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:45:04 PM

14 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.4wheelsnews.com

It is a big step for the Japanese manufacturer, and according to Toyota president, Mr.

Akio Toyoda, it will me an amazing result. The latest reports from Japan’s Best Car Magazine, revealed the fact the Prius Coupe will be designed by an Italian coachbuilder, possibly Pininfarina or Italdesign Giugiaro and the final product will be very close to the current Toyota Prius.

For those who don’t know, the Prius Coupe is the response to the new Honda CR-Z which will be unveiled at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, and will go on sale in February 2010. A release date for the new Prius Coupe was not revealed but rumors show that 2010 will be the year when this new car will be unveiled!

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Upcoming Toyota Prius Coupe to wear Italian design

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tryme

— tryme (View Profile)


User Comments

theoptimisticpessimist

Looks like a early 80's Bertone design.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 5:07:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

investor27

Not bad. But why? A Prius coupe is just the exact opposite of what the 5-door hatchback Prius is all about: space and utility.

— investor27 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 6:11:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

enthusiastx11

somewhat odd looking no? but i guess it makes sense to outsource what others can do better....i.e. design.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 6:36:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

huu76

Oh please enthusiasts, are you that hollow? All the Italian designer is going to do is take the current Prius, rake the front and back roffline to give it a more sleek silhouette, tweek the headlights and stamp their name on it.

Toyota doesn't need the designer, they're basically renting the name so Europeans will blow a load over it. They'll pay maybe a million $ at most.
The designer is going to have to make their body fit over the Prius' current setup, not the other way around (a little bit more than just renting out the Pininfarina name).

I highly doubt it'll look like the photochop above as that thing looks to be missing the rear seats.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 7:29:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

enthusiastx11

so why is toyota doing this? they made the decision to engage the europeans, not the other way around.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2009 1:31:30 AM | | Votes: -3   

1UAW

Toyota needs all the design help they can get most... no i mean all of there cars are boring.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2009 5:34:27 AM | | Votes: -4   

WorldofLuxury

Toyota has odd-looking cars. I wouldn't consider them more conservative than the illustration above.

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 8:22:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

IhavearedS2000

I have a feeling the CR-Z is gonna be sooooooo much better than this....

— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 9:48:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

GreenPlease

They are going to have visibility problems if they rake the front windshield that much.

— GreenPlease (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 10:34:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Joe_Limon

If you look closer, it looks as though the windshield starts a foot back from the black molding.

Also, this design looks strangely Korean imo.

— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 10:51:01 PM | | Votes: 3   

huu76

Joe_limon,
Which basically means it was originally a Japanese design to begin with :)

The photochop actually had me thinking Civic for the rear end.

I can't see the Prius being a true coupe though, only a pseudo coupe.
I think what they'll do is stretch the front doors (obviously) by about 33% and shorten the rear doors by 33% to make them into suicide doors. Then they'll give the rear winshield a kink for the appearance of a trunk, colouring part of the side pillar trim black or chrome would enhance that image. The smaller rear door would also allow them to lower the rear windshield a bit to provide a recessed look.
It'd probably have to become a 4-seater to make up for the little bit of room they'll lose with adjustments to the body.

Think I'd stick with the 4-door Prius.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 11:10:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

rxh8me9000

Its definately not going to look like that. Thats too flashy for a Prius. Not only that,but "amazing result" and " the final product will be very close to the current Toyota Prius" make no sense.

— rxh8me9000 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2009 11:42:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

XYZZ

too "flashy!???"

what a dumb comment. toyota has made MANY a flashy design. the last Celica and MR2 (both have been referred to as "a poor man's ferrari!"

earlier generations of toyota vans were also flashy, for a van. even having something of a "spaceship" look.

even the much maligned Prius, actually LOOKS MORE like a TRUE 21st Century car, if one can somehow get BEYOND all the knee-jerk criticisms of its advanced design. how many cars have a smooth line from the top of the front bumper all the way up to the top of the A-pillar? continuing over the roof and to the base of the C-pillar? and even BEYOND that (by suggestion) to the top of the rear bumper?

it is also the only truly attractive "Kamm" design, the most aero efficient form. while originally developed by a german, all euro attempts at a Kamm back have been hideous!

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2009 12:49:39 PM | | Votes: 1   

synx

yuck, what's that

— synx (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2009 3:20:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

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