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Prius Hearse Makes Your Last Road Trip a Green Ride

by Steve Levenstein


"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust"... the great circle of life is as green as it gets, so why not make your final road trip an environmentally friendly one?

That's the idea behind the upcoming Toyota Prius Hearse by Lequios. The Japanese hearse manufacturer has plenty of experience with modifying Toyota products and by basing their newest model on the popular hybrid, is simply responding to clients' requests for a more eco-friendly vehicle.




The Prius Hearse is only in the design phase at the moment but if the pictured interior photos of Lequios' other models are any indication, this is gonna be one high-class hybrid! Based on the third-generation Prius, the hearse version is extended 1930mm (77.2 inches) for a total length of 6400mm (256 inches, or 21.34 feet).

The extra length and weight does take a toll on the hybrid's vaunted fuel economy but it's still quite respectable: 20.9km/l or about 44 mpg. Compare that to the 89.4 mpg rating of the new 2010 Prius... but then, you won't be taking the Prius Hearse on grocery runs or date nights - though wouldn't that be cool? 




The estimated price of Lequios' upcoming Prius Hearse is 7,875,000 yen, or around $83,000 assuming you'll even be able to buy one here in the US of A. Just in case, though, I'm advising Larry David to start saving up those Seinfeld residual checks... his funeral is gonna be pret-ty, pret-ty good! (via Japan Probe, Response.jp and Yahoo Japan)

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Steve Levenstein
J A P A N O R A M A
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Comments
Jun 25, 2009
by Anonymous

Uh...

Which magical Prius gets 89.4 MPG? The brand new third generation Prius straddles the 50 MPG in the US so if you've somehow discovered a way to squeeze nearly 90 MPG out of the Prius, or any modern car for that matter, I suggest you patent it.

Jun 25, 2009
by Anonymous

Really?...

I don't know car jargon but I do know a hybrid's battery comes from nickel mines so toxic NASA tests moon rovers on the dead zone surrounding plants. Which is then sent across Europe and Asia for processing before the finished battery is shipped back to the US. So let's not kid ourselves if this is supposed to be a "more eco-friendly vehicle."

Jun 26, 2009
by Steve Levenstein
Steve Levenstein's picture

Dying green in Cincy

Very cool - wonder if the unusual use will void the warranty though. Regardless, call these guys if you happen to die in Cincinnati!

Jun 27, 2009
by Anonymous

silly

all you greenies are just weird

Jul 18, 2009
by Anonymous

This is almost disrespectful

This is almost disrespectful to the name hearse. A hearse is not supposed to get 39 miles to the gallon and i hope it never has to go up hill because it will never make it.