It's electric — the next generation Prius has leaked out ahead of its official 2009 launch.

The 2010 model, due to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January next year, shows a restyled front end that borrows a little from recent Toyota offerings, including the L-shaped headlights from the new Corolla, as well as the recessed fog lamps, the deeper air dam and characteristic bulbous badge housing.

Inside — all German-style grey plastics — it's a move away from the spaceship style controls of the current model, while the gear lever is transferred from the dashboard to the raised centre console that also features a pass-through to access the 12-volt outlet.

The new model is expected to have a more powerful petrol engine, larger electric motor and improved fuel efficiency despite its continued reliance on nickel-metal hydride batteries instead of the lithium-ion type.

Apart from confirming that the pictures are of the new model, Toyota themselves are keeping pretty tightlipped about actual details.

"What we can tell you, however, is this: This new Prius will retain all of the virtues of the model that precedes it," reads a post on the official Toyota Open Road blog.

"It's about the same size as its forebear, but with more interior room and better fuel economy. But you expected nothing less, right?"