This has to be the coolest Toyota Prius we’ve ever seen
Published on Jun 06, 2023 at 10:50 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Jun 07, 2023 at 8:46 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
When the fifth-generation Toyota Prius was unveiled last year, it was quick to receive rave reviews.
And rightly so – the Japanase automaker did a great job of giving it a far more aggressive-design than its predecessors.
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Well, it’s now been given a new look courtesy of Gazoo Racing which has totally transformed the humble Prius.
The problem is, though, it’s a concept and its drivetrain is unchanged – but more on the latter later.
Typically, only the most powerful members of the Toyota range receive the Gazoo Racing (GR) emblem.
The Supra, GR86, GR Corolla, and GR Yaris sold overseas all fall under the sub-brand’s umbrella.
Wind the clock back five years, seeing the Prius join the ranks of GR-branded models would have been unthinkable.
It just goes to show how far the hybrid segment’s poster child has come in terms of design.
Clearly, this isn’t your average Toyota Prius.
For starters, it’s actually called the ‘Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition’, which is a bit of a mouthful.
Name aside, the bulk of the modifications have been done to the exterior, where it receives a carbon fiber hood to save weight, redesigned headlights, and a full body kit.
That body kit includes canards on the front bumper, side skirts, a sizable rear wing, and a rear diffuser.
The 18-inch wheels the Toyota Prius sits on sit further out thanks in part to a wider suspension system.
Rumor has it, these updates make the Prius more aerodynamic while improving traction.
Toyota hasn’t released interior pictures, nor has it revealed technical specifications, which suggests that it’s a standard Prius underneath.
That would mean under the hood is an upgraded version of that used by the previous Prius plug-in.
The old 1.8-liter gas engine made way for a new 2.0-liter inline-4, which is still paired to twin electric motors, but they have also been beefed up.
Combined output is now 193hp rather than the 121bhp it was previously.
Obviously, there’s the Prius Prime, which offers a 220bhp drivetrain thanks to a bigger electric motor.
According to Toyota, it developed the concept to celebrate 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Nothing has been revealed regarding bringing the model to production, so we’re not entirely sure what the future holds for it.
Adam Gray
Adam Gray is an experienced motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for supercarblondie.com. Before joining the Supercar Blondie team, Adam was Motoring Editor for Portfolio North magazine, North East Motoring Editor at Reach plc, and provided motoring content on a freelance basis to several lifestyle and business publications in the North of England. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
