Toyota Prius C concept

Compact hybrid concept takes Prius family tally to four, and previews production model for 2012.

The Prius is growing down as well as up! Toyota has sprung a surprise in Detroit, unveiling an all-new smaller member of the Prius family called the Prius C concept.

Joining the standard car, the plug-in Prius and the new Prius V on the show stand, the C is aimed at a much younger customer base, and while Toyota say this is strictly a concept, it conceded that a production version inspired by this show car would go on sale in 2012.

Designed at Toyota's European design studios, ED2 located in Sophia Antipolis, South-East of France, the C will be the most affordable and also the most efficient member of the Prius family when it reaches production - thanks largely to its low weight.

With four doors and four useable seats, the most obvious rival is the Honda Insight which has always been cheaper and smaller than its arch rival, the Prius. However, with its edgy styling and youthful appeal it could double up as an alternative to the Honda CRZ coupe, too.

Honda 3R-C

Honda's electric vision for future

Set to debut in Geneva the three-wheeled 3R-C concept is a step towards zero-emissions future

Forget trains, buses and conventional cars this is how Honda envisages the commuter vehicle of the future! Called the 3R-C it an all-new three-wheeled battery-powered concept with space for just one passenger, and it's heading for the Geneva show.

Created by European designers working at Honda's R&D facility in Milan, the 3R-C is powered by an electric drivetrain mounted low in the chassis - to keep the centre of gravity as close to the ground as possible thus improving stability.

The clear canopy you can see covers the driver's seat when its parked up and not in use, and protects the driver from the elements when in motion. The high sides of the safety shell add to the weather protection and offer protection in case of a crash.

Also on display in Geneva will be the EV-N - Honda's take on a small, stylish zero-emissions supermini. First shown in Tokyo last year it takes its inspiration from the 1967 N360 city car.