The bigger goalof the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is to help the Japanese auto maker becomethe number one-selling nameplate in the truck business, displacing Ford aftermany years.
The immediategoal is of more interest to consumers looking for the latest techno-toy answerto improved fuel economy, if not actually lower overall transportation costs,though that's an issue for another time.
Right now, let'ssay hello to the first seven-seat hybrid, which ought to get some attention inthe SUV world when it arrives in Toyota stores sometime in 2005 afterappearances at the Montreal auto show in January and subsequent events acrossthe country.
Ken Tomikawa,president and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc., believes that the Highlander Hybrid ''makesan excellent companion vehicle to the Prius in our hybrid lineup by providingToyota
It is nothowever the end of hybrids bearingToyota
The new ToyotaHighlander Hybrid uses a mix of gasoline and electricity to power the 3.3-litreV-6, and is another new version of Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive
''The system wasspecifically developed to meet the load-carrying requirements of a mid-sizeSUV,'' says Tony Wearing, managing director of Toyota Canada Inc.
Most importantlyin a vehicle as large as a Highlander, the new system features alarger-capacity battery and all-new high-speed electric motor that will delivermore power thanToyota
''With totalpeak-system power projected at approximately 270 hp,'' says Wearing, ''the newsystem will improve upon the V-6 Highlander's already impressiveless-than-eight-second zero-to-60 kmh acceleration.''
The HighlanderHybrid uses a regenerative braking system to further boost system efficiency,Wearing explains. ''When the vehicle is coasting or the brakes are applied, theelectric motor functions as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that wouldnormally be lost as heat through the brakes and converting it into useableelectricity to recharge the batteries.''
In addition toits performance, Wearing says, the Highlander Hybrid will also deliver the bestfuel economy in the mid-size SUV segment. Indeed, ''Highlander Hybrid'scombined fuel efficiency will be comparable to that of a compact sedan. Equallyimportant, Highlander Hybrid will be rated as a Super Ultra Low EmissionVehicle, one of the most stringent emissions ratings in the industry.''
In addition toproviding the fuel economy of a compact sedan, Wearing says, the HighlanderHybrid will ''offer the versatility, refinement, and comfort demanded in amid-size SUV.''
For example, HighlanderHybrid will get electric four-wheel-drive with intelligence (4WD-i) as standardequipment, as well as front and rear electric motors that will ''deliverbalanced power to all four wheels, providing instantaneous acceleration.''
The immediategoal is of more interest to consumers looking for the latest techno-toy answerto improved fuel economy, if not actually lower overall transportation costs,though that's an issue for another time.
Right now, let'ssay hello to the first seven-seat hybrid, which ought to get some attention inthe SUV world when it arrives in Toyota stores sometime in 2005 afterappearances at the Montreal auto show in January and subsequent events acrossthe country.
Ken Tomikawa,president and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc., believes that the Highlander Hybrid ''makesan excellent companion vehicle to the Prius in our hybrid lineup by providing
It is nothowever the end of hybrids bearing
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''The system wasspecifically developed to meet the load-carrying requirements of a mid-sizeSUV,'' says Tony Wearing, managing director of Toyota Canada Inc.
Most importantlyin a vehicle as large as a Highlander, the new system features alarger-capacity battery and all-new high-speed electric motor that will delivermore power than
''With totalpeak-system power projected at approximately 270 hp,'' says Wearing, ''the newsystem will improve upon the V-6 Highlander's already impressiveless-than-eight-second zero-to-60 kmh acceleration.''
The HighlanderHybrid uses a regenerative braking system to further boost system efficiency,Wearing explains. ''When the vehicle is coasting or the brakes are applied, theelectric motor functions as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that wouldnormally be lost as heat through the brakes and converting it into useableelectricity to recharge the batteries.''
In addition toits performance, Wearing says, the Highlander Hybrid will also deliver the bestfuel economy in the mid-size SUV segment. Indeed, ''Highlander Hybrid'scombined fuel efficiency will be comparable to that of a compact sedan. Equallyimportant, Highlander Hybrid will be rated as a Super Ultra Low EmissionVehicle, one of the most stringent emissions ratings in the industry.''
In addition toproviding the fuel economy of a compact sedan, Wearing says, the HighlanderHybrid will ''offer the versatility, refinement, and comfort demanded in amid-size SUV.''
For example, HighlanderHybrid will get electric four-wheel-drive with intelligence (4WD-i) as standardequipment, as well as front and rear electric motors that will ''deliverbalanced power to all four wheels, providing instantaneous acceleration.''