Next-Generation 2016 Toyota Prius Spotted Testing In Thailand

The fourth-generation Toyota Prius is expected to make its global debut later this year at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show in October but thanks to an Indian Autos Blog reader who snapped a photo of a camouflaged test vehicle on the streets of Thailand, it appears that global testing of the all-new Prius is well underway.

There’s no denying that under the heavy camo, the car seen in the photos largely retain its hatchback shape and sports a similar look to another test vehicle sighted in the United States.

Even if the next-gen Toyota Prius’ (currently codenamed 690A) familiar body shape is retained, it is all new beneath the metal starting with the company’s Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) which will also underpin future models from the company.

Car Advice reports that the new Prius will be around 10% more efficient than the current model which roughly translates to a fuel economy figure of 3.5 litres per 100km. Besides that, the Prius aims to have an increased thermal efficiency of nearly 40%, potentially making it the highest for a mass-produced passenger vehicle. As a comparison, the outgoing model stands at 38.5% thermal efficiency. 

Nickel-metal hydride batteries will be fitted as standard although higher end variants could be fitted with lithium-ion batteries which promise longer electric-only driving range albeit being more expensive.