Ryo Sakai, a spokesman for Toyota, confirmed the launch to Bloomberg, although he declined to elaborate on when the new Prius will enter production or when it will go on sale.
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It has been seven years since the last Prius arrived.
The new Prius is said to be showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
As a most-important car, and virtual sub-brand unto itself, the 2016 Prius will be first to utilize Toyota’s new TNGA modular architecture. It is expected that the coming Prius model will follow the look of the previous model, though concept art seems to reveal a much bolder front design. It’s also rumored that the 2016 Prius could be the first version of the popular hybrid to offer all-wheel drive.
Still, the Prius has accounted for 82% of all industry hybrid sales so far this year, according to Kelley Blue Book. Wireless charging is a special new feature in the plug-in hybrid model, with owners being able to charge their vehicle via a special pad.
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Regarding charging, reports from a few weeks ago indicated that Toyota might install a new, lithium-ion battery in higher end Prius models, while the entry model of the 2016 Prius will stick to the nickel-metal battery.
