The plug-in->ke4486 version of the Toyota Prius->ke231 is the most recent addition to the Prius lineup, but it will also be the first departure. In a brief statement, Nathan Kokes, brand manager for Toyota’s->ke88 Advanced Technology Vehicle Marketing, announced that the current Prius Plug-in will be phased out in June.

Showing how integral internet forums are these days, Kokes broke the news on Prius Chat. As for the future of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, he said: “we are hard at work developing the next generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid and we are looking forward to sharing more details with you as we approach our launch date.”

With the next-gen Toyota Prius expected to debut for the 2016 model year, the cancellation of the Prius PHEV probably wasn’t too big of a surprise for green-car->ke3234 enthusiasts, but it does show that the more advanced, plug-in version of the hybrid->ke147 will live on after a brief hiatus. The new Prius Plug-In will likely be introduced for the 2017 model year.

Complementing the Prius Liftback, Prius c and Prius v, the Prius Plug-in was introduced for the 2012 model year, which provided added benefits that included 11 miles of driving range in EV mode, a top speed in all-electric mode of 62 mph and an EPA-rated 95 MPGe.

Continue reading to learn more about the current Toyota Prius Plug-In.

Why it matters

As new rivals like the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf and 2016 Chevrolet Volt enter the EV and PHEV market, expect the next-gen Toyota Prius Plug-In to push the limits of advancements to further Toyota’s position as a leader of hybrid electric vehicles.

Toyota Prius Plug-In Driven

Read our full review here.