May 27, 2010 - Toyota Releasing Prius "Alpha" MPV in 2011

Toyota is capitalizing on the success of its hybrid Prius by releasing 8 new body styles-the first of which will be a compact van. Dubbed "Alpha", the MPV will launch in Spring 2011. Now larger families will finally be able to use the Prius, too!

The van, a stretched-out version of the current Prius model, will have a third row of seats and a lithium-ion battery pack (unlike current models). The overall vehicle length will extend by a foot, while the wheelbase will extend under an inch. Obviously but unfortunately, the larger size of the MPV means that it won't be quite as fuel-efficient as the Prius, which gets 50 mpg.

Toyota also plans to release a 5-seater MPV that uses nickel-metal hydride batteries to cut down on cost. Details remain limited about that model, which probably won't be released until after the Alpha version, but you can bet that Green Guide Network will bring you the details as soon as we get them.