I am typing this from 40,000 feet over the Middle of nowhere as I travel to L.A. for the auto show. Sometime tonight I will see the next Toyota Prius for the first time, along with hordes of other shrimp-eaters. Until then, however, I can surf my browser over to the Google machine and find information on the Japan-spec Prius, which has already broken cover.

Toyota has teased us already, and now we can see the real thing -- or, at least, the Japanese version. American specs will be different -- I have embargoed materials in my inbox that I have yet to look at it, lest I conflate the two cars and accidentally break embargo -- but we know the Japanese car will have 193 horsepower in series-hybrid guise. The plug-in hybrid version will have 220 ponies.

The gas engine that's part of the hybrid setup will be a 2.0-liter mill, replacing the old 1.8. Astute readers will note that both versions will offer significantly more power than the outgoing model, which has just 121 horses at work.

The stance is lower and the car looks sleeker, though it maintains the general Prius profile. Inside, the dash is one big sweeping unit, with a horizontal infotainment screen in the center and a smaller instrumentation screen ahead of the steering wheel. HVAC controls appear to be in the middle, and the shifter looks similar to what the current car has.

Again, the American-spec car will be different, at least somewhat. Check back at 6:30 PST tonight to see our take on the American version of the fifth-generation Prius.

What do you think, B and B?

[Images: Toyota]

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