The 2009 Toyota Prius will be similar to the second generation 2004-2008 models. The internal combustion engine will be upgraded from 1.5 to 1.8 liters. The '09 version will be 3-4 inches longer, an inch wider, a bit heavier, and more powerful than the current model. The new model will use solar panels to provide a portion of the power needed to power the air conditioning unit. It's also expected to have a slight improvement on gas mileage to exceed 50 mpg.

The ‘09 Prius is expected to debut at the January, 2009 Detroit Auto Show. It won’t be a plug-in version just yet - the first plug-in Prius is anticipated in the 2010 model year. Accordingly, the '09 version will continue to use nickel metal hydride (NiMh) batteries.