---
title: "Toyota’s TRD Got Its Hands on the Prius, Made it More Aggressive and Aerodynamic"
description: "It may not change how you feel about the revolutionary hybrid, but there's no denying it looks a lot better."
date: "2018-12-27"
modified: "2018-12-27"
authors:
  - name: "Cam VanDerHorst"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/cam-vanderhorst.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/25684/toyotas-trd-got-its-hands-on-the-prius-made-it-even-more-aerodynamic-and-efficient"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Toyota News"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "Hatchback"
  - "hybrid"
  - "Prius"
  - "Tokyo Auto Salon"
  - "Toyota"
  - "TRD"
  - "Upgrade"
---

# Toyota’s TRD Got Its Hands on the Prius, Made it More Aggressive and Aerodynamic

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/12/prius01.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Toyota has long been the butt of jokes about being a producer of dull, soulless appliances. They've done a lot to shake that reputation lately, with fun-to-drive cars like the 86 and the upcoming Supra. However, it's a new, amped-up Prius that gives the Japanese automaker well-deserved kudos.

Toyota's newest attempt at turning the tide involves turning their in-house tuning division, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) loose on what may be its [most-maligned, by enthusiasts](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23797/driver-repeatedly-tells-state-trooper-i-drive-a-prius-refuses-to-pull-over.md>), model. TRD's upgrades are mostly visual, but they do certainly make the Prius into [a more aggressive-looking hybrid people-mover](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/24954/some-mad-genius-just-attached-an-m61-vulcan-rotary-cannon-to-a-toyota-prius.md>).

![message-editor%2F1545933273074-prius02.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1545933273074-prius02.jpg>)
**Toyota**

![message-editor%2F1545933287001-prius03.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1545933287001-prius03.jpg>)
**Toyota**

The subtle body kit includes everything you'd expect: a front lip spoiler, side skirts, and a rear diffuser. There's also a few other touches, too, including door handle inserts and a roof-mounted diffuser above the rear window. [TRD engineers](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/20865/2018-toyota-tacoma-trd-off-road-review-a-rugged-pickup-truck-for-carpocalypse-now.md>) also gave the Prius a dual exhaust system, a red stop/start button, and a selection of aluminum wheels with sizes ranging from 15 to 18 inches

While TRD's upgrades don't make an improvement on the dyno sheet, the engineers utilized computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis to maximize the slipperiness of the Prius' already aerodynamic shape. Appropriately enough, the TRD Prius is designed for maximum efficiency, aerodynamics, and fuel economy.

The parts will be available as kits or à la carte, with the option to have them factory paint-matched at an additional cost. The parts are already on sale in Japan and will be formally unveiled in January at the [2019 Tokyo Auto Salon](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25661/subaru-unveils-sti-forester-and-impreza-concepts-ahead-of-2019-tokyo-auto-salon.md>). None of the parts or kits are for sale in the US—yet.

*h/t:* [*Motor1*](<https://www.motor1.com/news/298943/2019-toyota-prius-trd/>)

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/camvanderhorst>)

## More

- [Fanboys Rejoice, There’s Now a Liberty Walk Body Kit for the 2019 Toyota Prius](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/28661/fanboys-rejoice-theres-now-a-liberty-walk-body-kit-for-the-2019-toyota-prius.md>)
- [This Company Makes Toyota Prius Lift Kits and People Are Actually Buying Them](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/37692/this-company-makes-toyota-prius-lift-kits-and-people-are-actually-buying-them.md>)
- [Toyota Executive Wishes to Have More TRD and AWD Models: Report](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25216/toyota-exec-wishes-for-more-trd-awd-models-report.md>)
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- [The 2023 Toyota Prius Is as Quick to 60 MPH as the Old Toyota 86](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2023-toyota-prius-is-as-quick-to-60-mph-as-the-old-toyota-86.md>)
- [A Texas Shop Built a Hunting-Spec Toyota Prius and It’s Actually Quite Clever](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40319/a-texas-shop-built-a-hunting-spec-toyota-prius-and-its-actually-quite-clever.md>)
- [This 9,000-RPM, Prius-Engined Toyota Echo Sounds Seriously Good](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-9000-rpm-prius-engined-toyota-echo-sounds-seriously-good.md>)
- [Toyota Prius Power Steering Works in Almost Any Project Car](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/41845/toyota-prius-power-steering-works-in-almost-any-project-car.md>)