Update (4th June 2010) – The 7-seat Toyota Prius MPV is expected to be priced in Japan below 2.5 million (around $27,700). It is based on the Prius platform, but the big change would be the switch to Lithium ion batteries. The 5 seater version will stick with the Prius’s nickel metal hydride pack though. Combined mileage is expected to fall short of 50mpg.

With capacity to seat seven, the Toyota Prius MPV, according to Autocar UK, will go on sale in March next year. The usual practice with high profile cars like Prius is initially launch it in Japan and then take it to the rest of the world. But Toyota could launch the model in the UK market first, for a change.

The Prius MPV will be called Prius Alpha, it could get an upgrade to lithium ion batteries which charge quicker, last longer and weigh lesser. The Toyota Prius currently uses a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack providing 273.6 volts, 6.5 A·h capacity and weighing 53.3 kg.

Nothing other than that is expected to change under the skin of the Prius MPV. It will continue to use the 1.8-liter petrol engine that can produce 98hp. With the motor kicking in, the tally is boosted to an impressive 135hp. It has an extra row of seats, thus it will be 300mm longer. The wheelbase will be 20mm longer.

Due the extra bodywork, the Prius will be heavier and isn’t going to be extremely fuel economical. 70 50 mpg is expected, which is a decent figure for a 7-seater. A 5-seater version looking similar to the Hybrid-X concept from 2007 is also in the pipeline.

There is absolutely no hint on the pricing. Perhaps Toyota could price this car about 25% more than the existing model? Let us also not forget the fact that Toyota is working on a Prius Coupe as well.

Source – Motortrend, Autocar