Toyota Reportedly Developing ‘Hotter’ Prius GRMN Version

According to recent reports coming out of Japan, the latest generation 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid could adopt a ‘hotter’ GRMN performance version. It will likely underpin the Prius ‘Prime’ model and harness tuned version of said model’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

Reportedly tasked with developing this supposed Prius GRMN variant is Toyota’s Gazoo Racing - or GR for short - high performance division. While the GR Sport badge in select models designates upgrades to the car's styling, some GR models receive the full fast-car treatment.

This could make it the peppiest Prius model ever built, and it will reportedly be fashioned accordingly with a wide bodykit, font fender vents, plus lightweight alloy wheels a la the GR Corolla and GR Yaris hot hatches.

Fuelling this further is the fact that both the GR Corolla and the all-new fifth-gen Prius share the same GA-C platform architecture. Sources suggest that the former hot hatch mentioned might lend both its trick suspension and powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged 3-cyl powerplant for the Prius GRMN.

The latter powertrain swap however is something undetermined for now. That’s because reports further indicate that the tuning potential of the base PHEV model’s 2.0L 4-cyl mill has yet to be fully determined, so there is a possibility that a different plug-in hybrid powertrain may be adopted instead.

Alternatively, the RAV4 Prime's 2.5L hybrid 4-cyl plus tri-motor also stands as a strong contender too. This PHEV setup outputs a respectable 302 HP, thus giving the hypothetical hotter Prius the power and all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction as the GR Corolla does.

Aside from the increased power and beefed up suspension, the Prius GRMN will also see its chassis rigidity increased to improve its handling further. Additionally, it will also reportedly receive special interior features to set it apart from its non-GR siblings.

However, if this Prius GRMN does end up becoming a reality, it will probably be unveiled between Q3 2023 and Q2 2024.