Civic EG

Auto Observer reports that the next generation of Toyota's wildly successful Prius hybrid "is coming soon and will launch at the Detroit auto show in January 2009." The car will be "a touch bigger so offering more space. It will come with stronger 1.8-liter hybrid performance yet at the same time boast even better economy and class leading emissions, if early word is correct." The Prius will feature "a bigger 1797 cc four cylinder gas engine to cope with the bigger body and counter criticism in some quarters of the weedy performance of the current 1.5," boosting the total output of the car to 160 horsepower (up from the current 110). Sources say Toyota rates the new configuration for 94 mpg.