A seven-seat people carrier and new small car are the latest Toyota models to be given the Hybrid Synergy Drive make-over.

Prius+ becomes the first full-size hybrid MPV and is expected to dip below 100g/km for CO2 while the Yaris range is similarly extended with the launch in late 2012 of an HSD version. Its emissions will be lower than 85g/km.

Both cars are intended to tap into a growing market for hybrid technology.

Toyota points to research which shows that in 2009, 8% of European car buyers intended to make a hybrid their next purchase; now that proportion has doubled to 16%.