Murphy Auto Group

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.

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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.