Auto Channel

Japanese newspaper Yomiuri is reporting that Toyota may be deep in development of a Prius SUV, according to the AP. The SUV could be in addition to the Prius Wagon rumored since the Toyota Hybrid X Concept was put on display at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.


The timing seems spot-on. After all, the industry journal Automotive News reported way back in October of 2007 that Toyota planners had said the 2010 Prius sedan would be followed in a year or so by a wagon version.


If released, we would expect that Toyota would include regenerative brakes, and a solar roof option. Plug-in versions could be in the works as well. No word yet if the company would use the nickel-hydrogen battery pack seen on the standard Prius, or the Lithium-ion battery used on the plug-in model


A little odd-sounding is the reported choice of a lithium-ion chemistry for the vehicle's batteries - top Toyota officials have been publicly proclaiming for months now that they don't believe lithium-ion batteries are sufficiently cheap or reliable yet for retail use.
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