Toyota Prius C gets crossover update in Japan – UPDATE

The Toyota Prius C has been given another makeover in its home market of Japan, including the more significant addition of a crossover-style variant.

Known back home as the Aqua, the Prius C gets subtle revisions to the headlights, grille, and front bumper, along with reworked tail-lights. Updated wheel and tyre packages complete the exterior changes.

Inside, the Japan-market Prius C now gets a TFT multifunction display as standard, along with various trim and material upgrades.

The main talking point, however, is a new variant appropriately named 'Crossover' (above). Distinguishing features include chunkier bumpers, wheel arch mouldings, roof rails and special 16-inch alloy wheels.

Crossover versions of the Prius C also get retuned ride and handling characteristics, likely to make it a little more SUV-like.

It's actually not far off the 2013 Toyota Aqua Cross concept, revealed at that year's Tokyo motor show.

Meanwhile, the range continues with the current car's hybrid powertrain, which teams a 54kW/111Nm 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 74kW.

Toyota Australia has confirmed with CarAdvice that an update for the Prius C is slated for "later in the year", with details to be provided closer to launch.

However, Stephen Coughlan, product public relations manager for the company's local arm, said there are "no plans to augment the range with any new variants".

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