A racier Prius is here

THE Toyota Prius is the world's best-selling petrol-electric hybrid but Kouji Toyoshima does not regard other fuel-sipping hybrids as the competition. Instead, in his cross hairs are clean diesels and downsized turbocharged models. In other words, the conventional fuel efficient, eco-friendly car.

This has driven the chief engineer for the fourth-generation Prius to make the latest version of the famous nameplate a more dynamic drive.

To say the Prius is a groundbreaking model is an understatement. When it went on sale in late 1997, it was the first production hybrid.