Toyota Australia announced it will offer Australian customers a versatile new member of the Prius family – the seven-seat Prius v.The new Prius v will be the first Toyota production vehicle in Australia fitted with a lithium-ion battery – placed under the centre console between the driver and front passenger.

Toyota’s lithium-ion battery is smaller and lighter than the nickel-metal hydride battery in Prius, but has similar storage capacity. Prius v, due on sale in May this year, will join an expanding Prius family that includes the standard Prius hatch and the Prius c city car.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the seven-seat Prius v will broaden the appeal of Toyota’s hybrid technology and environmental credentials.The Prius v is all about versatility – it is larger and roomier to meet the needs of growing families while retaining the Prius DNA of environmental performance and fuel economy,” Mr Callachor said.

Due to the placement of the lithium-ion battery pack between the front seats, there is minimal compromise to the MPV-style seven-seat passenger accommodation or the load space,” he said.Families will have the flexibility of using all seven seats or folding down the third-row seats to convert the car into a five-seater with extra luggage space.

Customers can also fold down the second-row seats to accommodate more cargo than many SUVs and wagons on the market. Prius v has been newly designed from the ground up – an evolution of Prius, not merely an elongated version. All exterior body panels are new.

Source: http://news.toyota.com.au/toyota-brings-seven-seat-addition-to-prius-family