New Cars

Toyota Motor Corp will be releasing a new petrol electric hybrid in Japan while the Prius will compete with Hyundai Motor Co in Korea. Toyota hopes to sell 36,000 of its new Sai hybrid sedan, Toyota’s goal being one million hybrid cars a year globally after 2010.

The Sai is Toyota’s second hybrid-only car, this car is a redesign of the Lexus HS250 hybrid. The Sai is based on a concept derived from the Japanese word sai-which means “talent” when written as “” and “coloration” when written as “”-as a hybrid-only sedan “combining advanced talent and multi-color sophistication”.

The Sai is based on the Lexus HS250h hybrid, a vehicle designed for people who want a more premium hybrid experience than they would get in the Toyota Prius. The Sai would seem to fit somewhere in between. It offers the same powerplant as the HS, but not quite as many luxury features. It’s basically an HS with different nose, tail and interior detailing.

System (THS) II combining a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle combustion engine with an electric motor and a reduction gear. The Toyota Sai Hybrid uses a 2.4-liter petrol engine generating just under 150 horsepower, and up to 187 Nm of torque. It is mated to a strong electric motor, powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces an additional 140 hp and up to 270 Nm of torque. The Toyota Sai Hybrid powertrain is designed to utilize the two generators efficiently, giving the driver up to 185 hp at any given time.

An exhaust heat recovery system uses exhaust gas to heat the engine, thus shortening engine-warming time and contributing to greatly improved fuel efficiency, especially when outside temperatures are low.

Programs that allow drivers to attain donations to charities using points received, that surpass fuel efficiency of nationwide Sai ESPO users, and other recreation incentives to encourage drivers to drive in environmentally tactful ways, are available

Toyota is also sending its brand to South peninsula where the Hyundai Kia partnership dominate. The Prius and Camry hybrids will be first and joining them will be the petrol version of the Camry and the RAV4.

Toyota Executive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo told a news conference, “The launching of the Toyota brand into South peninsula is aimed to meet the diversifying needs of consumers in this ontogeny market,”

“We intend to attain every effort to contribute to South Asiatic gild and acquire a loyal following.”

December the seventh is the release fellow for the Toyota Sai retailing at 3.38 meg yen ($40,250), the Lexus HS250 is priced at 3.96 meg yen ($47,159).

The Sai is due to hit a consumption rate of 4.34 liters per 100 km. At this stage Toyota has no plans to goods the Sai, preferring to centre on the home market.