Sporty Toyota GR Prius seems a step closer

The new Toyota Prius breaks nicely with the past. For the first time, the Prius seems to score quite a few bonus points with its appearance, in contrast to its predecessors. Toyota has of course given its perhaps most discussed model a somewhat flashier look for a reason, because the Japanese brand is still busy shaking off the somewhat dusty image here and there. But with nicer-looking models alone you are not there yet, so it also adds a touch of sportiness with the GR label. It is again a bit more likely that the Prius will also receive a GR treatment, to complete the party with this fifth generation.

The Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition presented last month seems more than a one-off finger exercise. None other than Akio Toyoda docks Coach explains that the study embodies an expanded vision of the Prius: “Prius became a strong name because it introduced hybrid technology and broke with the fixed segments. In that sense it became an icon, but now we have decided to take it from the approach the other side and present a Prius for motorsport.” According to Toyoda, there are great opportunities that can be seized with a GR version: “GR has the power to raise the price of a product, but also to give models new appeal. We are repositioning long-running models .”

Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition

If Toyota does indeed come up with a GR Prius, there is a good chance that it will be a Prius without hybrid power. That would in itself are already very special. After all, the most obvious source of power for a GR version is the 1.6 three-cylinder that is already in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla. The Prius shares its base with the Corolla, so technically it should be pretty easy to do. In the Corolla, the little giant stomps out 304 hp and 370 Nm, more than 80 hp more than the standard plug-in hybrid Prius.