Tommi Kaira Prius: All Show, Still No Go

Proof That It's Okay to Be A Hypocrite
(Image Credits: Autocar Magazine Online)

Fans of Gran Turismo will have heard of Japanese tuning outfit Tommi Kaira. While TK earned digital fame for its mental versions of the Skyline GT-R and Mitsubishi Lancer, it seems that the erstwhile wrenchmen wanted to do something a little more, how shall we put it, green. Enter the Tommi Kaira Prius. This is a very important car. Before you laugh that one off, let me explain why. There have been a whole raft of so-called "hybrids" out there; the Escalade, Silverado, and rumored Ferrari V12 hybrid come to mind. These are little other than normal gas-guzzlers with large hybrids. Think of them as thirsty beasts wearing a cuddly, Earth-friendly badge. Tommi Kaira have unwittingly produced the exact antithesis of these cars: a hybrid dressed up like a sports car! Wow! Like Andre Agassi said back in his Canon days, image is everything. The question I'm left with is, what image exactly is TK going for? It is a niche car, that is for sure. But how large can the niche be for people that want a sporty-looking, though not altogether sporty driving hybrid car? It's the sort of people who want to wear outdoor performance clothing, but don't want to have to go through the hassle of actually going outdoors. Hey, maybe TK is on to something...