Toyota Studying Seven Passenger Hybrid for U.S.

Toyota Studying Seven Passenger Hybrid for U.S.

Toyota is seriously studying the possibility of bringing to the American market a hybrid vehicle containing three rows of seats that would not be built on the existing Prius platform but would be a member of the Prius-brand family, the company has announced. Toyota Division Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter, speaking at a Prius V wagon (below) technical preview last week, also said in remarks that were embargoed for publication until today that over the next 20 months, 10 new or redesigned hybrids will be introduced in Toyota's global portfolio

Carter said the three-row Prius would not be the same vehicle as the Prius Alpha (top) that will be sold in Japan, which will contain a third row of seats in some of the cargo area of the five-seat Prius V wagon that will go on sale in the U.S. this fall. Rather, the vehicle that the company is studying for possible production would be able to accommodate seven people and still have lots of cargo space, he said. The company currently offers only one hybrid model in the U.S. containing three rows of seats -- the Highlander Hybrid.

The Japanese automaker, which wants to sell 1 million hybrid models a year, has stated that it is following a two-path approach to hybrids: It will produce dedicated hybrid vehicles bearing the Prius badge, and it intends to offer by 2020 a hybrid-powertrain option for all of its conventionally powered models. In addition to the Prius V hybrid wagon Toyota will bring to market in the U.S. in September or October of this year, early next year the automaker intends to launch a Prius C compact hybrid vehicle and a Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle in America.

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.