Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid has been voted 2005 European Car of the Year, after the fuel-sipping sedan picked up the corresponding title in North America in January. (Photo: CRI/Google)

    BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid has been voted 2005 European Car of the Year, after the fuel-sipping sedan picked up the corresponding title in North America in January.

    It was the third time for a Japanese brand to win the European award since its inception in 1964, after Nissan Motor Co.'s Micra compact in 1993 and Toyota's Yaris, also known as the Vitz, in the same segment in 2000.

    This year's jury consisted of 58 motoring journalists representing 22 European countries.

    Since its launch in early 2004, sales of the second-generation gasoline-electric Prius are expected to reach 8,500 units in Europe this year.

    Toyota is forecasting a near-doubling in European sales of the Prius to 15,000 units next year.

(CRIENGLISH.com)