TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan — Toyota is planning to unveil the third-generation Prius and a new Lexus hybrid at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show next January — and then put the new Prius on sale next year.

'You are going to love it,' said Toyota Motor Sales Group Vice President Bob Carter. Carter was interviewed by the Dow Jones news service while attending a management seminar hosted by the Center for Automotive Research in this northern Michigan enclave.

The original Prius dates to 1997 and was launched in markets outside Japan in 2000. The second-generation Prius was introduced in 2003. Toyota's Prius has been the Michael Phelps of hybrids, dominating wherever it appears, and Toyota announced that sales of the hybrid worldwide passed 1 million in April. The car is sold in 40 countries but is especially popular in Japan and North America.

Carter gave no details about the Lexus or about the third-generation Prius except to say 'significant improvements' could be expected.