Next-gen Prius semi-officially leaks out: yep, looks like a shoe

We thought we had a handle on what the next-gen Prius was going to look like when we spotted those renders back in July, and Toyota's just confirmed that some press shots that leaked out last week are the real deal, not just photos of a super-high-tech sneaker. The company isn't providing any more information until the official debut at January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but we're hoping we'll get some more details about those plug-in fleet tests, as well as those solar plans. Check a few more shots at links below.

[Thanks, Miko34]

Read - 2010 Prius photos on Prius Chat
Read - Toyota corporate blog

[erm87 @ Oct 19th 2008 2:14PM]

i don't see the shoe-like resemblance. The front kinda looks like a scion though.

[ptj @ Oct 19th 2008 2:22PM]

i don't see the shoe either...

[Rob @ Oct 19th 2008 2:49PM]

agreed. this is actually an improvement in their design, though still isnt up to par. if engadget thinks this looks like a shoe, i'd hate to know what they think the previous models resemble.

[Bryan W @ Oct 19th 2008 3:43PM]

Here you go.

http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Marked/20070925/WOOD-CLOGS-464307.jpg

[Flashpoint @ Oct 19th 2008 3:59PM]

There is nothing toyota could sell me. Nothing short of an LS460 Lexus and even then I wouldn't trade my S550 for it.
My girlfriend just purchased a Honda Accord Coupe V6 fully loaded and I have to say, for the money, honda is WAY better than Toyota Corrola and Camry. She paid $30,800 cash for a car fully loaded with GPS, alarm, remote start,heated seats and moonroof. Toyota can't touch that.


I'm not hurting from the gas prices (which I promise you - will rise after the election ends) but If I were choosing an economy car, I'd go for the Volt.

[Mike @ Oct 19th 2008 4:14PM]

the first pictures that were leaked months ago were from bad angles that looked shoe-like

[Andrew @ Oct 19th 2008 4:30PM]

@ Flashpoint
Too bad Mercedes are absolutely horrible for reliability, I've never been to the service center so often in my entire life. I'd bring a laundry list of issues to their attention, they would take 3 days to work on it, and then when it came time to pick the car back up half of the parts were back ordered from Germany. They'd always respond with, "What's the problem, we're going to fix it for you!" - nevermind the fact that it was a huge pain in the ass to bring it in every time there was a problem. I have to say they treated me really well, but it wasn't worth it.

Our Lexus GS430 (two years old) has been nearly flawless, there was a single preemptive recall that was fixed in a matter of hours but that is it. As much fun as the Mercedes was to drive, they need some serious quality control changes before I'll ever reconsider buying one.

Toyota and Honda have their quality under tight control!

And this Prius doesn't look like a shoe, I don't know where that came from.

Cheers

[who? @ Oct 19th 2008 4:54PM]

+1 Vote on the not looking like a shoe thing. My shoes get flat towards at the tip. I think it looks more like an astronaut boot.

[1234321 @ Oct 19th 2008 5:20PM]

looks like a Megazord shoe to me

[ScooterDe @ Oct 19th 2008 6:05PM]

no improvement here I can see. Still a sloping back. Same ugly design they have sat on for ages. About time they had a new body shell if they really want this to catch on, in a mass-market kind of way.

[HyperHacker @ Oct 19th 2008 7:11PM]

The editors must wear really ugly shoes.

[WarMouse @ Oct 19th 2008 8:26PM]

Flashpoint and Andrew, arguing for the common man.

[1990 grand prix ftw]

[kyle allen @ Oct 19th 2008 8:26PM]

can we just ban flashpoint? my 27 year old toyota corrola-tercel has over 200,000 miles and keeps running withought any major problems, its a tank! and once i get the carb set up right it should get about 50mpg. get a toyota before you tell me their crap.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 19th 2008 10:42PM]

My Z3MC looks like a shoe. This does not.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Oct 19th 2008 2:15PM]

All it needs is the nike check.

[Mantikos @ Oct 19th 2008 2:47PM]

Its the 'swoosh'...not a check
and NO, it has no resemblance to a shoe...
Nillay needs a lesson or 2 in both automotive and shoe design...
and probably some corrective eyeglasses as well!

[bartoron @ Oct 19th 2008 2:21PM]

I like the look of the current Prius, but this new one looks nice as well.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 19th 2008 3:18PM]

The current Prius is the most hideous car on the road today. But at least this one looks better.

[lowdef @ Oct 19th 2008 3:21PM]

this car has the exact same c-pillar, therefore = shit

[waiownsyou @ Oct 19th 2008 3:26PM]

@ happy_penguin

It's not a Pontiac Aztek.

[Totalfixation @ Oct 19th 2008 3:45PM]

@waiownsyou

I'll agreed the aztek is the most ugliest car ever.

[Mike @ Oct 19th 2008 4:15PM]

civic hybrid looks 1000x better though

[Shenzhov @ Oct 19th 2008 4:31PM]

I agree, I really like the look of the current Prius and the new one looks nice too. They look futuristic, like Disney would have them running around Tomorrowland. Lots nicer than a lot of the joke little square boxes you see running around with the 4 foot tall spoilers on the back thinking they look cool.

[Seminole @ Oct 19th 2008 4:46PM]

I dunno guys, the brand new TL is giving the Aztek a run for its money in my book

Front:
http://image.motortrend.com/f/10662384/112_0810_20z+2009_acura_TL+front_view.jpg

Back:
http://image.motortrend.com/f/10662387/112_0810_19z+2009_acura_TL+rear_view.jpg

[Tomahawk @ Oct 19th 2008 4:52PM]

@waiownsyou, uhh..... you should look again. I bet if I lined five Priuses and five Azteks side by side in a room and adjusted the lighting so that all you would see is their silhouettes you wouldn't be able to figure which one was which. The Prius is an Aztek, except it's a hybrid.......which means it is one of the ugliest cars ever made, and the newer one isn't much better.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 19th 2008 5:00PM]

An Aztek isn't a car.

[The Joker @ Oct 19th 2008 2:22PM]

Welcome to last week.

[eliterrell @ Oct 19th 2008 2:26PM]

You must have really strange looking feet.

[Sudo @ Oct 19th 2008 2:30PM]

At least this Prius actually looks good.

[brandon @ Oct 19th 2008 2:40PM]

Just wait until you see those god damn bats.....

[Booshack @ Oct 19th 2008 3:20PM]

PLEASE. Tell me you got the fucking golf shoes!

[Tajrian Talukder @ Oct 19th 2008 2:31PM]

Looks like a Toyota Auris at the front and a Prius at the rear.

[Bryan W @ Oct 19th 2008 2:32PM]

I think the appropriate title is that it *Still* looks like a shoe.
For the love of God, can we please have a Prius version that looks good?

[waiownsyou @ Oct 19th 2008 3:27PM]

It's called a Camry Hybrid.

[Bryan W @ Oct 19th 2008 3:37PM]

When the Camry hybrid has the same fuel economy specs, call me.

[David Vogt @ Oct 19th 2008 2:35PM]

How does this look like a shoe? This looks really sleek.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 19th 2008 3:19PM]

It still has a fat ass.

[David Vogt @ Oct 19th 2008 3:32PM]

@ happy_penguin

Yes, in some cultures this is also referred to as a "trunk" or "boot," the back location on a car used to store things for safe transport. Typically this should be as large as possible so that one can fit more than a very small midget inside of it.

[Ignatius @ Oct 19th 2008 3:43PM]

He means you can fit more junk in the trunk.

[y3k.nik @ Oct 19th 2008 2:40PM]

I will take two of those for my unnaturally large feet. thanks

[Finde @ Oct 19th 2008 2:45PM]

Does it come in an 8?

[Jon @ Oct 19th 2008 2:44PM]

I don't get it... it looks like the old one to me...

[mYstik @ Oct 19th 2008 3:34PM]

The interior looks horrible. You can tell Toyota is really trying to cut costs. I guess they want to sell it for a lower price.

Volt>Prius

[ScooterDe @ Oct 19th 2008 6:06PM]

they have always cut corners with the Prius interior. Apart from the powertrain, the Prius is a seriously ugly car.

[digitallysick @ Oct 19th 2008 3:03PM]

The body style is fine i think it needs some ground effects , and different rims and it would be ok

[happy_penguin @ Oct 19th 2008 3:21PM]

Why? So you can screw up the aerodynamics? Look, as ugly as the Prius is, Toyota knows what they are doing from a standpoint of efficiency. The car's shape is what it is because it needs to be as economical as possible from a standpoint of MPG. The only reason to buy a Prius is MPG.

[iEye @ Oct 19th 2008 3:03PM]

Stop complaining about car design, If you want a sports car that gets you girls... (or guys) get a 69 GTO... otherwise just drive the thing, maintain it and scrap it when the car is finished...

You cannot have a car that gets rediculous mileage and looks like a ferrari, those are called kit cars and it is embarrasing when you hear a tiny whimper coming from a car that should put out a roar...

or just get an iPhone if you want to feel special...

[lowdef @ Oct 19th 2008 3:24PM]

of course you can get a car with good mileage that looks good (ie TESLA) its just a matter of consumers telling them they dont want to drive a shitty looking car. all you need is a sleek design with a good drag coefficient.

shove the iphone up your ass please.

[Bryan W @ Oct 19th 2008 3:40PM]

No one's saying that it has to look like a ferrari. I'm more than satisfied with the Volt's appearance, for example. I have yet seen any research that indicates this hideous design is the most optimal design, either.

[Benson @ Oct 19th 2008 8:54PM]

Ok, so iEye demonstrates his characteristic ignorance by confusing sports car with muscle car.

But, he redeems himself by pointing out that getting an iPhone is on the same level of patheticness as kit-car exotics.