Toyota considers more hybrids

[R-34]

14 Jul 2003
Source: just-auto.com


Toyota Motor Corporation, already the industry leader in hybrid-electric vehicles with three in production, is poised to add three more to its US line-up for the 2005 model year and is also studying the feasibility of a V8 hybrid for its Lexus division, Automotive News reported.

Toyota sources told the trade newspaper that the company is preparing to add hybrid versions of the Highlander sport wagon and Sienna minivan to the US line-up.

The two vehicles would join the redesigned Prius sedan, to go on sale in October, and a previously announced hybrid Lexus RX 330 SUV, to be called the RX 400H when it goes on sale next spring as a 2005 model, Automotive News added.


Dave Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering for the Toyota Technical Centre, told Automotive News that the Camry, the best-selling car in the United States, could get a hybrid powerplant.

The RX 330, Highlander and Sienna share architecture that is based on the Camry's platform, although the sedan's packaging is different from that of the larger vehicles, the paper noted.

Toyota also is researching the feasibility of mating hybrid technology with a V8, Shinichi Matsumoto, project general manager for Toyota's electric and hybrid powertrain development group, told Automotive News.

[Pepper]

Originally posted by R-34
14 Jul 2003
Source: just-auto.com


Toyota Motor Corporation, already the industry leader in hybrid-electric vehicles with three in production, is poised to add three more to its US line-up for the 2005 model year and is also studying the feasibility of a V8 hybrid for its Lexus division, Automotive News reported.

Toyota sources told the trade newspaper that the company is preparing to add hybrid versions of the Highlander sport wagon and Sienna minivan to the US line-up.

The two vehicles would join the redesigned Prius sedan, to go on sale in October, and a previously announced hybrid Lexus RX 330 SUV, to be called the RX 400H when it goes on sale next spring as a 2005 model, Automotive News added.


Dave Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering for the Toyota Technical Centre, told Automotive News that the Camry, the best-selling car in the United States, could get a hybrid powerplant.

The RX 330, Highlander and Sienna share architecture that is based on the Camry's platform, although the sedan's packaging is different from that of the larger vehicles, the paper noted.

Toyota also is researching the feasibility of mating hybrid technology with a V8, Shinichi Matsumoto, project general manager for Toyota's electric and hybrid powertrain development group, told Automotive News.

Here is Toyota-Estima-Hybrid-Minivan

[Pepper]

Originally posted by Pepper
Here is Toyota-Estima-Hybrid-Minivan

The other one

[Pepper]

Originally posted by Pepper
The other one

Here is the other Hybrid (HVM4)

[Pepper]

Originally posted by Pepper
Here is the other Hybrid (HVM4)

Interior of (HVM4)

[R-34]

thanks for the pictures Pepper

[Tuong-Vi]

cái interior dzòm củng not bad hén..

[warlock110]

hehe saves gas, dun know if it's that great though, hybrid usually has small engines like civic or corolla, man those car after 5 years of use can hardly get up da hill.

[VietRulesAAAAA]

Anyone have any idea WHEN Toyota hybrid vans are for sale in the USA ??? I need a hybrid van to drive in the HOV lane, but i do not want to buy a car. :confused:

[MuonChoi]

keep dreaming sucker. It will never come.

[R-34]

Originally posted by VietRulesAAAAA
Anyone have any idea WHEN Toyota hybrid vans are for sale in the USA ??? I need a hybrid van to drive in the HOV lane, but i do not want to buy a car. :confused:

for that hybrid van pepper posted? It will not come to the US so does the Crown Royal Hybrid

[R-34]

want to see what a hybrid van interior again?

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/estimat/exterior/images/ex01_svg.jpg
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/estimat/interior/images/int01_svg.jpg
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/estimat/interior/images/int03_svg.jpg

[Mitsurugi]

Originally posted by Tuong-Vi
cái interior dzòm củng not bad hén..


Troi oi Troi, con nha` ai ma` nhi`n de^ ghe't wa' va.y Troi.


:D :D :D

[Mitsurugi]

Originally posted by warlock110
hehe saves gas, dun know if it's that great though, hybrid usually has small engines like civic or corolla, man those car after 5 years of use can hardly get up da hill.

I dont' think Toyota engineers overlook those obsticle.

Japan is a mountainous country so when engineers design a car they take that landmakr into consideration...

So wholla....

I confide those van can climb a roof top long after ten years....:D

[Pepper]

Originally posted by VietRulesAAAAA
Anyone have any idea WHEN Toyota hybrid vans are for sale in the USA ??? I need a hybrid van to drive in the HOV lane, but i do not want to buy a car. :confused:

I read a new that they plane to sale ESTIMA HYBRID VANS in USA.
Here it is:

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

Toyota Motor says it expects to export a 40-mile-per-gallon, hybrid-power minivan to the USA to join its Prius gas-electric hybrid sedan. That's about double the fuel economy of a gasoline-only U.S. minivan.

Eriko Sugita, Reuters
Toyota's Fujio Cho unveils the gasoline-electric hybrid Estima minivan.

The announcement in Tokyo by Toyota President Fujio Cho included no details on when the van, sold in Japan as the Estima, would come to the USA, at what price, or how it would fit with the different-design Sienna gasoline minivan Toyota already sells here. U.S. spokesmen had no additional information.

"Naturally, we will export the Estima Hybrid in the future. Probably, the United States will be next," Cho was quoted as saying while showing the hybrid version of the van.

Estima is about the size of a short-wheelbase U.S. minivan. The hybrid version in Japan has four-wheel drive. A gasoline engine, electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission are packaged together in front, and drive the front wheels. Another electric motor is mounted in back to drive those wheels.

Toyota plans 300,000 hybrid-power vehicles a year in 2005, up from just 19,000 in 2000. Many will be so-called mild hybrids, which improve fuel economy only about 15% vs. gasoline power. U.S. automakers don't plan fuel-efficient hybrids until '03, mainly sport-utility vehicles.

Prius is $20,450 and rated 52 mpg in town, where it mainly uses its electric motor, and 45 mpg on the highway, where the gas engine kicks in. Honda sells Insight, a two-seat hybrid priced $20,620.