Toyota planning second dedicated hybrid for 2009

Toyota has confirmed that it will unveil its third-generation Prius hybrid vehicle next year, most likely at the Detroit Auto Show in January, however latest reports indicate a second dedicated hybrid model will join the Prius. This will be in addition to a dedicated hybrid model expected from Lexus, which will also be revealed for the first time next year.

The information comes from the Nikkei, which also reports that the new model will be produced at a plant in Fukuoka and could potentially sell up to 100,000 units per year. The new car will be bigger and more powerful than the Prius, and will likely feature an engine displacing between 2.0 and 2.5L. According to the newspaper, a re-skinned and re-badged version of this car will be sold as a Lexus.

The Fukuoka plant is currently used to build hybrid versions of the Toyota Harrier and Lexus RX, as well as the Highlander (Kluger), but given the declining sales of the SUV models Toyota is looking at making adjustments to the factory to support more fuel-efficient hybrids.