Toyota unveils redesigned 2016 Prius hybrid

Toyota has pulled the cover off the redesigned 2016 Prius, a car that the automaker claims "pioneered the hybrid" segment.

The Prius enters its fourth generation with a look that is a clear departure from Priuses of old, more closely mirroring the design of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle Toyota unveiled last year.

The new car is 61 millimetres longer, 15 millimetres wider and and 20 millimetres lower than the third-gen Prius, while it features a longer and sleeker profile that offers more of a sedan-like look.

The hood is also lower and the car features bold character lines that run along the side from the front fenders toward the rear of the Prius.

Inside, the Prius features a wrap-around dash design and wide instrument panel, "form-hugging seats," and improved visibility.

While details remain scant, Toyota said the Prius' hybrid system components are lighter and smaller, the the batteries feature a higher energy density, and the car's internal combustion engine is 40 per cent for thermally efficient than the outgoing version.

Toyota said it expects a 10 per cent improvement in EPA-estimated miles per gallon, giving it "best-in-class fuel economy among vehicles without a plug."

The current Prius is rated at 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway—equivalent to 4.6 L/100 KM and 4.9 L/100 KM, respectively.

The automaker also said a soon-to-be unveiled Eco model will boast an even greater improvement in fuel efficiency.