Apparently, the Prius nameplate isn’t as strong in Toyota’s home market of Japan as it is in the rest of the world as what we will come to know as the new Prius C will be marketed locally as the Aqua.
Besides the name, there’s nothing else different about the Aqua that made its world premiere this week at the 42nd edition of the bi-annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.
Toyota’s smallest dedicated hybrid model measures 3,995mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,445 mm tall and has 2,550 mm between its wheels, which means it is slightly bigger than the latest Yaris five-door hatchback.
The five-seat model is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 74HP at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm (81.9 lb-ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm, and an electric motor producing up to 61-horses and 169Nm (125 lb-ft). The hybrid system’s combined output (in JDM tune) is rated at 100HP with a CVT transferring power to the front wheels.
In Japan, the Aqua returns a fuel efficiency of (equal to 83.3 mpg US or 2.8lt/100km) under the JC08 test cycle and 40 km/L (94 mpg US or 2.5lt/100 km) under the 10-15 driving cycle.
Following the launch of the Aqua in Japan that is scheduled for the end of December, the Prius C will gradually reach showrooms across the world.
NEW TOYOTA AQUA JAPAN 
NEW TOYOTA PRIUS C NORTH AMERICA 
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