Toyota Prius V: Launch postponed

Toyota has postponed the launch of the Prius V in Japan as a result of the ongoing problems after the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Really, in the big scheme of things, the news that Toyota has postponed the launch of the Prius V in Japan is of no real consequence.

The devastation caused in Japan by the earthquake and tsunami, and the ongoing concerns about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, has lead Toyota to postpone launching the new, bigger Prius in Japan.

Not only has the launch been postponed, but Toyota say they have made no decision about when the launch will take place. But with Toyota production plants still closed, the launch of the Prius V can wait for another day.

However, Toyota do say that the expected launch of the Prius V in North America later this year – and the launch of its 7-seater Prius+ in Europe – are not expected to be delayed by the current problems.

Interestingly – and now we’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out – we think Japan are due to get both versions of the new Prius. It seems as if Toyota intend offering the Euro version Prius+ as an option to buyers of the Prius V in Japan so they can choose between a five and seven seat version.

For North America there will be no seven-seat option as it’s thought the Prius+ will be just too small for seven Americans, but we’re not sure we see the logic of no five-seat Prius V for Europe.

But, for now, that’s all academic.