At the Tokyo Motor Show this week a small crossover and convertible were added to Toyota’s ever-expanding hybrid lineup. Both are based off the Toyota Aqua, which is sold in the states as the Prius c.
Aqua Air
The Aqua Air is basically a drop top version of the smallest of the Prius family. Power comes from the same 1.5-liter aluminum twin-cam with Toyota’s VVT-i valve timing system that’s standard on the Prius c.
However, the nose has been restyled with a fascia more appropriate for a sports car. A large trapezoidal grille dominates the face and two aggressive intake vents bracket the face. The headlights have a bit more menace as well, with a stylish swoosh DRL that is integrated in much better fashion than production Lexuses, and a cool headlight element that looks like a ray gun. The rear has been completely redesigned with the bracket vent motif repeated and completely new LED taillights.
The interior remains largely unchanged aside from some color-coordination for show car purposes. Amazingly, it still seats four. There are no plans for production, but it would likely be a smash hit in Los Angeles.
Aqua Cross
The Aqua Cross takes the compact hybrid in the exact opposite direction. Instead of a small, sporty-ish runabout, it raises the Prius c and and adds bodywork for light off-road duty. It’s a Prius Outback, in other words, with wheels that resemble the Subaru XV Crosstrek’s.
Like the Aqua Air, its powertrain is taken from the Aqua directly. The front comes with large integrated fog lamps and a skid plate underpins both front and rear approach angles. Again, Toyota says there are no plans for production but this car makes a lot of sense for outdoorsy types that want a Subaru in a sub-Subaru size.
Philanthropy
Interestingly, neither of these cars appeared in the main Toyota booth. Instead, they were shown by Toyota Motors of Japan East, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Toyota that focuses on designing compact cars. The spin-off was moved to Tohoku a little over a year ago specifically to help boost the economy of areas ravaged by the tsunami and earthquake of 2011.
Live images by Ben Hsu.
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