Peter Lyon
February 22, 2024
So this week the Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition is on display at the Toyota Beyond Zero showcase in Malaysia. But the car it’s based on—the 5th generation Prius—is, well, not yet available here.
As for the Centennial version, though, it was first shown during the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance event last year.
This special Prius was built to highlight the brand’s huge success in the World Endurance Championship, which includes five straight wins in the GR010 hybrid hypercar at Le Mans since 2018. It is outfitted in GR style with components inspired by motorsport, such as a rear diffuser, side skirts, rear wing and carbon-fibre bonnet.
The bodywork has undergone further revisions, including enlarged wheel arches that accommodate a set of 18-inch alloy Rays wheels on 235/50R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres while the suspension has also been modified to accommodate the wider tracks.
Additionally, this Prius sports a bumper that features a honeycomb grille, a wider rectangular intake, and four LED lights in each corner that resemble the headlamps of prototype endurance race cars.
The front seats of the left-hand drive model are markedly sportier than those of the normal Prius; these are GR-branded sports seats with integrated headrests. Like the GR Corolla Morizo Edition, this version also has no rear seats.
The Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition has an all-wheel-drive hybrid electric drivetrain, according to UMW Toyota Motor information. However, there is no indication of any modifications made for on-circuit performance.
A 152 ps/188 Nm 2.0 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a 113 ps and 206 Nm electric motor makes up the powertrain of the standard, road-going Prius that employs AWD. This E-Four layout adds 41 ps through its rear electric motor, bringing the system’s total output to 199 ps.
The road-going Prius’s second powertrain choice is a 1.8-litre NA four-cylinder engine that produces 98 ps and 142 Nm. It is paired with a more subdued e-motor that develops 95 ps, for a system output of 140 ps overall. A 4.08 Ah lithium-ion battery powers the 2.0L and 1.8L models, which are connected to an electronically controlled continuously variable gearbox (eCVT).
Regarding the Prius that is available for purchase in showrooms, Malaysia hasn’t yet seen the official release of the fifth-generation model, which debuted in November 2022.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Talk about dangling a carrot! Sheesh. This is quite a car to be dangling in front of motorists who adore Toyota products, with many pining for the new Prius. Just when that new model will land in Malaysia is anyone’s guess right now. But with Toyota shining so much light on this model this week in Malaysia, we have to conclude that the chances of the legendary hybrid model showing up on our shores is stronger than ever.
