The fifth generation of the Toyota Prius marking a significant departure from its predecessor’s busy design language while bringing more power and greater efficiency. Wasting no time, Toyota’s in-house tuners Modellista and GR Parts are preparing a raft of upgrades for the Japanese domestic market model. Modellista will offer two distinct styling packages for the new Prius named ‘Elegant Ice’ and ‘Neo Advance’. One would argue that the bodykit is too complex for the clean design of the new Prius, but the result is still more appealing than the previous generation.
The Neo Advance looks sportier thanks to
the front bumper extension with integrated LEDs and the blue accents on the
central intake. On the other hand, the Elegant Ice adds body-colored garnish
next to the headlights, and a pair of chrome-finished faux exhaust pipes at the
back. Each styling kit has its own side skirts, but none of them includes a
rear spoiler that would unnecessarily increase drag and potentially hurt the
plug-in hybrid’s efficiency.
TRD hasn’t revealed much yet about its own
“GR Parts” kit for the Toyota Prius, but they did publish a single photo
showing the design of both ends. Changes include the black-finished front
bumper garnish hugging the central intake and creating a more pronounced
splitter, tinted add-ons for the side windows, and a lip spoiler on the base of
the rear windshield. This is probably the most appealing option for the Prius,
possibly preparing us for an upcoming GR Sport trim. Judging from the rest of
the Toyota lineup, the Prius GR Sport is expected to combine sportier looks
with a more focused suspension setup.
Pricing for the Modellista and TRD kits
will be announced at a later date, together with a more detailed description of
the available components. The most powerful variant of the Toyota Prius plug-in
hybrid range produces a combined 220 hp thanks to a 2.0-liter
petrol engine, a front-mounted electric motor, and a larger 13.6 kWh
lithium-ion battery. This represents a significant upgrade compared to its
predecessor’s 120 hp, bringing greater performance credentials
for the first time in the history of the nameplate. Still, the Prius remains
focused on efficiency, with Toyota promising more than double the EV range of
the outgoing model for its latest PHEV.
