The design shown in the above website for next gen Prius looks more like a wagon, which means it will have lot more cargo capacity (close to that of Crown Vic). If they make it bit more wider, a 6 seats can be offered.

Many people who wants a minivan will consider this.

If they want to offer 3 versions, they can offer something like
PriusA – 2 Seater (Retirees, singles, rentals will buy this) – 140 inches length
PriusE – 4 Seater (Small families and taxis will buy this) – 160 inches length
PriusU – 6 Seater (Somewhat bigger families will buy this) – 180 inches length
All the above will be pronounced as 1 word like (Priusah, Priusee, Priusoo).

All can have same design and this will cut the cost for the product.

This combination is going to offer stiff competition to Toyota. This helps the rumor that Prius will come in 3 models.

In that case, what will happen to Camry, Highlander, Rx400h, Gs450h, LS600h.
They are not going to scrap those models.

Also Toyota indicated that by 2020, all their vehicles will offer a Hybrid version, in that case what will happen to Prius (A, B, C).

Toyota just keeps quite, I think they would continue to retain Prius as a 5 Seater, 5 Door Hatch. It will be better, if they offer a Wagon version, since Wagon’s offer more space that a Hatch and lot more than Sedan.

Its an interesting topic. But 1 thing is clear, if the automakers dont move away from Oil, then the Trains & Buses are going to eat their market.
Let us see.

sorry, i always have to correct this when i see it. i think i’ve made it a neurosis. it’s “hear! hear!” not “here! here!” …i have waaay too much annoying canadian politics on the brain right now.

While it may look great at first glance, it would take a lot of capital to make it happen, both for the parent company and the local dealers and would only be worth it if the company’s market share expands enough to justify it. Fact is, many of the sales would come at the expense of other Toyota product lines, especially the Yaris and the Scion line. And, as the article noted, the Camry hybrid would go away under such a plan.

Bottom line: Don’t hold your breath. This rumor rears its head from time to time and is probably no closer to reality now than it was before.

1) a small hybrid SUV, along the lines of the Ford Escape.
2) a Prius-styled wagon, along the lines of a Jetta GTI…maybe with a longer wheelbase than the GTI.
3) a 2-seater sport coupe (a la Honda’s CR-Z) with the electric boost dedicated more for torque/horsepower than efficiency.
4) the current Prius sedan as it exists today, with maybe some updated stylings and a LI-ion or LI-polymer battery.

In the past few months, I have seen posts from people who are dissatisfied with current hybrid technology in that they wish hybrid cars either had more horsepower, or more fuel efficiency. Obviously, horsepower and fuel efficiency are on opposite sides of some cryptic equation, and so you have to trade one for the other. Until now, hybrid-car manufacturers have only been delivering cars with either some mix of both, or biased towards being more fuel-efficient. Nobody is giving buyers much of a choice. Toyota’s latest plan MAY allow people to choose which one they want, instead of ONLY hybrids that have been balanced for “average” horsepower and “better than average” fuel efficiency.