Fifth-generation Toyota Prius set to debut on November 16

Toyota recently teased a new model’s silhouette through the company’s Japanese social media sites which is likely to be the next-generation Prius.

Before we go any further, although Toyota has traditionally placed a great emphasis on its established nameplates, having used the Corolla name since 1966, the new car may not be labelled a 'Prius, as according to autocar.uk. More to that, after a decade of competition, the Prius has also been pulled from the Japanese GT300 racing series.

Back to the story, one of the images has been leaked which sees strapline "Hybrid Reborn" beneath a headlight. This suggests that the future model will have a different hybrid powertrain than the current model, such as a plug-in hybrid system or a motor-generator setup in which a gasoline engine creates energy while an electric motor drives the wheels.

The teaser depicts the unknown vehicle's headlight, which bears a striking resemblance to the design language of the fully electric Chinese-market Toyota bZ3 electric saloon series. Also, the new Prius is said to be based on the new E3 platform, which combines components from the GA-C platform that supports the Corolla and the electric bZ architecture. With its swooping roofline, the five-door fastback body style appears to be part of Prius development.

All four versions of the Prius featured an aerodynamic design, as minimal drag enhances efficiency. The new Prius seems to retain its strong rear shoulders of the previous model, but with softer contours and smoother surfacing.

As reported, the Prius could acquire a hydrogen-electric model in addition to the standard hybrid with a gasoline engine and an electric motor. However, carscoops has mentioned that this will not be available at launch.