Toyota Announces Prius c, Plug-In Hybrid Concept for Detroit Auto Show

Taking its turn in the deluge of announcements leading up to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota on Tuesday said it would reveal two new Toyota vehicles at the January event -- the Prius c and the Plug-In Hybrid Concept.

First is the world premiere of the NS4, an advanced plug-in hybrid concept vehicle. Second is the North American premiere of the Prius c hybrid vehicle. Both will be revealed on Jan. 10 at 8:45 a.m. in the Riverview Ballroom at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

For Toyota, we've always been of the mindset that we're looking at a portfolio of different products, Toyota spokeswoman Amy Taylor told the International Business Times by phone Tuesday afternoon.

Toyota released a teaser photo of the NS4 concept, which is pretty much a headlight. As for the Prius c, Taylor said it will hit dealerships in the spring of 2012.

Expect the NS4 concept to be the next generation version of the Prius plug-in hybrid, which is expected to go on sale in the spring. The Prius plug-in gets about 49 mpg in hybrid mode and has a 15-mile electric range. Its battery can charge in about three hours. Top speeds are about 62 mph.

Toyota announced the Prius c in mid-November, along with more complete photos of its hybrid. The company said the car will get better than 50 mpg in the city, the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle. The Prius c has a smaller, 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine.

Taylor said the company also expects to release a fuel cell hybrid vehicle by 2015, powered by four hydrogen fuel tanks, an electric motor, and a nickel-metal hydride battery. She said Toyota is the only major automaker currently pursuing the multiple options of electric vehicles, plug-ins, hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles.