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Tokyo - Toyota says it may not have been as bullish as rivals in the past in pushing plug-in hybrids.
Toyota leads the industry in hybrids, which switches between a petrol engine and an electric motor, having sold 9 million hybrid vehicles around the world since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.
In contrast, the Japanese automaker has sold only about 75 000 plug-in hybrids, which charges from a regular household plug, and runs as a pure electric vehicle and switches to a hybrid when the battery runs low.
READ: 5 things you should know about Toyota's new SA-bound Prius
The remodeled plug-in, called the Prius Prime in the US and Prius PHV in Japan, goes on sale later in 2016. Chief Engineer Kouji Toyoshima says Toyota took its time to study best plug-in solutions.
Toyota's new Prius Prime PHV goes on sale in US and Japan later in 2016. Image: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama
New Prius for SA
Toyota's fourth-gen Prius is being launched in June 2016.
Glenn Crompton, vice-president of marketing for Toyota Motors South Africa, says: "The fourth-generation Prius builds on the strengths and achievements of its predecessors and establishes new benchmarks in fuel economy, emissions and efficiency.
"It will add further impetus to the growing appeal of hybrids in the global market, achieving its strongest environmental performance yet, while delivering much improved styling and surprising driving dynamics from a green car."
Price: R427 200
Fuel consumption: 3.7 litres/100km
Service plan: 5-years or 90 000km
Warranty: 3-years or 100 000km
Hybrid battery warranty: 8-years or 195 000km
