What's New for 2012
The 2012 Toyota Prius C is an all-new, smaller and lower-cost version of the Prius.
Introduction
City dwellers and hybrids are a match made in
automotive heaven. The stop-and-go-slow driving conditions of the urban
jungle allow a hybrid to run on pure electric power for much of the
time, contributing to its impressive fuel efficiency and lower
pollution. But not everyone needs the spaciousness of the segment
superstar, Toyota's Prius. So for them, there is the new 2012 Toyota
Prius C (for city-centric). Prius Junior offers much of its bigger
brother's practicality -- such as a space-efficient hatchback body style
with four doors -- along with a lower price tag and even higher fuel
economy.
Click here to view our full inventory of 2012 Prii.
Based on the camouflaged Prius Cs we've seen in spy photos, the C's
styling looks like that of a scaled-down (it will be about 20 inches
shorter in length) version of the standard Prius. That means a snub
nose, an arcing fastback roof line and a rising beltline that kicks up
at the rearmost side windows. Also in keeping with Prius architecture,
the cabin will feature a center-mounted instrument panel.
The hybrid powertrain will likely feature either a 1.5- or 1.8-liter
inline-4 joining forces with a battery-powered electric motor. As far
as fuel economy, Toyota hasn't yet divulged any concrete details.
However, the company has stated that the Prius C, whose pricing is
slated to start at around $19,500, will be the most efficient
non-plug-in hybrid vehicle available in the U.S.