Just read the review in my new issue of Car and Driver. Toyota indicated that the Rav4 was not engineered to receive a hybrid powertrain.

What is the limitation ?

R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles

Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."

Ironic that the Rav4 was engineered to be a fully electric vehicle until they overturned the California ZEV mandate. Since Toyota intends to introduce hybrid options to all it's models, then I don't think it's out of the running to become a hybrid, probably just not a top priority. They have already announced the new 2007 hybrid models, I would bet the Rav4 hybrid could be ready by 2010 or so.

2001 Prius Photos       2005 Prius Photos
'97 Prius Simulation Prius inner workings