On sale in Japan since 1997, and already in its third generation with 2.3 million units sold, the Toyota’s Prius hybrid receives a style update at Frankfurt, along with additions to the range.

Making its debut at the Frankfurt auto show, the Prius sports improvements to its interior and exterior, plus a range of multimedia systems.

Changes to the green superstar’s appearance include the evolved face of Toyota, including a front bumper with a larger lower grille area. The revised headlamp cluster holds LEDs, while daytime running lights have been incorporated in the bumper.
 
The light arrangement at the rear is revised, too, while the Prius also has a new 15” wheel design.

PRIUS FAMILY

The interior also gets a tweak in the form of a new colour scheme of black with silver-looking inserts and new upholstery.

A new centre console, upgraded information display and a “hybrid blue” hue for the start button are some of the changes Prius fans can look forward to.

In other Prius news, Toyota also used the Frankfurt stage to introduce additional members of the Prius family, including the Plug-in Hybrid (for “early adopters") and Prius+, for larger families requiring the flexibility of having seven seats.

The revised Prius hatchback will arrive in South Africa from the first quarter of 2012, Toyota SA told Wheels24, although there's no decision yet on the Plug-in and + variants.

The Japanese automaker plans to launch up to 10 new hybrids by 2015, it said in a statement.

In South Africa, the Auris HSD, Toyota's second hybrid model for the local market, will be launched at October's Johannesburg auto show.

The latest from Frankfurt.