Thankfully, Toyota’s new president has admitted that the brand needs a dosage of excitement. It’s about time someone realises that the market still wants fun cars, it doesn’t matter if it’s a green machine, as long as its fun. According to rumours straight out of Japan, Toyota is said to be working on a two-door version of the Prius in an effort to go up against Honda’s upcoming CR-Z.
The shortened, 2+2 Prius-based hybrid sports coupe is said to be already under development and is powered by an uprated version of the 1.8-liter 2zr-FXE four-cylinder engine that’s good for around 134hp – a good 36hp more than its sedan counterpart. Naturally, Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system will carry over and the additional power boost will have an adverse impact on fuel mileage – albeit a minor one.
If the sports coupe does come to be, expect it to be around 100mm shorter than the sedan, a standard interior as the one in the sedan, and to be released sometime in mid-2012. There’s still no word on what it will be called and whether it will be sold in markets outside of Japan. As always, expect it to take its time to make it here, if ever.
