Frankfurt Preview: Toyota to show Auris Hybrid, Prius PHEV and two iQ variants

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Frankfurt Preview: Toyota to show Auris Hybrid, Prius PHEV and two iQ variants

Posted by SharK at 12:38 PM

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota, Frankfurt Motor Show

Toyota Plug-In Prius Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to the LF-Ch from its Lexus luxury division, Toyota also intends to bring a few more environmentally friendly automobiles to the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, some seemingly close to production form and others as concepts to whet our appetites for the future. Included among these new forward-looking machines will be the Auris HSD Full Hybrid concept, a plug-in version of the new third-gen Prius and two concepts based on the automaker's tiny iQ platform.

We're expecting the Auris Hybrid to feature a 1.8-liter engine mated up to Toyota's latest Hybrid Synergy Drive as featured in the 2010 Prius. Perhaps more interesting, though, is the Prius PHEV that's headed to Frankfurt. Up to this point, all the plug-in prototypes seen testing have used the previous second-generation Prius platform. Toyota's not giving any details on the vehicle, but we're expecing that there's a lithium ion battery pack lurking within that sports enough juice to allow for a decent electric-only range. Toyota will lease 150 Prius PHEVs in Europe starting next year.

Finally, Toyota will trot out two conceptual custom versions of its iQ minicar called the iQ for Sports and the iQ Collection. The Sports model seems to be a version of the car wearing the same yellow paint and flared fendered bodykit seen earlier this year at the New York Auto Show badged as a Scion. From the lone shot of the Collection, we peer through the clear roof at what appears to be a luxurious-looking interior swathed in cow hides. Click past the break for the official press release and check out all four models in our gallery below.

Gallery: Frankfurt Preview: Toyota concepts