Looking similar to a conventional Prius, the Plug-In version has a lithium-ion battery on board, offering an extended full-electric range from a mains-supplied electric charge. Once this range is exhausted, the car behaves like a normal Prius.

The Plug-In Prius will be sold alongside the outgoing model, giving urban users full electric mobility but without range anxiety from longer-distance travelling. But it almost halves fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from 72.4mpg to 128.4mpg, and 89g/km to 49g/km, according to Toyota’s predicted homologation figures.

Available next year, it joins an expanding range of Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles under the Toyota brand, including the Prius, seven-seat Prius+, Auris Hybrid and Yaris Hybrid. Plug-In models are marked out by a mildly facelifted front end and unique five-spoke alloy wheels.