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New car
Toyota hybrids offer fuel-efficient triple play
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Drivers looking for ways to trim their soaring fuel budgets can turn to Toyota's latest hybrid technologies for help.
Toyota offers three hybrid vehicles—Prius, Camry and Highlander—designed to meet the needs of different types of driving. Each offers Toyota's hybrid synergy drive to manage fuel consumption.
"As gasoline prices continue to remain high, the buying public has accepted hybrid technology as the norm for future automobile power," said Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales. "The "future' arrived at Toyota a decade ago with the original Prius, and today Toyota is the clear leader in hybrid vehicles."
Toyota engineers developed Hybrid Synergy Drive, a technology fusing traditional gas engines with a battery unit. It can operate in gas and electric modes or both as needed.
Other technologies also help Toyota hybrids improve fuel efficiency for hybrids. A continuously variable transmission does not have fixed gear ratios but uses infinitely variable ratios in response to driving conditions. A regenerative braking system uses small generators at the wheels to create energy and recharge hybrid batteries.
"The cost benefit of hybrids is becoming more apparent with climbing gas prices," Lentz said.
Toyota hybrid vehicles offer an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty that covers hybrid—related components including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter.
Highlander Hybrid
The 2008 Highlander Hybrid allows drivers to maintain an SUV lifestyle, giving drivers ample space for a family on the go and economy more commonly associated with smaller vehicles.
Achieving an estimated 31/27 MPH in city/highway driving, the Highlander Hybrid delivers more than 270 horsepower in a V-6 powerplant—plenty of power to pull a trailer on the family vacation. Toyota engineers also increased the size of the latest generation of Highlander and packed it with safety features.
Standard features on the Highlander Hybrid include:
- Smart Start and Entry for Limited and all hybrid models.
- Second row of captain's chairs with armrests that can fold down to a bench seat.
- Center Stow seat that hides under the front center console when not in use.
- AM/FM/CD with six speakers.
- Power door locks and windows with driver's window jam protection.
- Ten cup holders four bottle holders.
- Cargo area with 12-volt auxiliary power outlets and tie down hooks
- Multi-function keyless entry system
- UV reduction glass windshield and rear privacy glass and digital clock.
- Telescopic steering wheel with audio controls.
- Seven airbags including driver's knee airbag and roll-sensing side curtain airbags for all three rows.
- Toyota's STAR safety system of anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and enhanced vehicle stability control
Camry Hybrid
Drivers can get power and comfort of a family sedan along with the efficiency of a hybrid vehicle in the Toyota Camry.
Camry's Hybrid Synergy Drive system produces 187 horsepower and an EPA-estimated MPG of 33/34 for city/highway driving. It delivers responsive handling from a four-wheel independent suspension using MacPherson struts in front and a dual-link strut rear suspension system.
Standard features on the Camry Hybrid include:
- Multi-information display including outside temperature, estimated range, average speed, average fuel consumption and trip odometer.
- Dual-zone automatic climate-control system that reduces airborne mold spores, microbes, fungi, odors, germs and bacteria inside the passenger cabin.
- Power glass moonroof, reclining rear seats, fog lamps and aluminum wheels.
- Smart Entry and Smart Start system that allows drivers to remotely lock, unlock or start the car.
- Premium JBL system with Bluetooth includes an AM/FM/six-disc in-dash CD changer with eight speakers and an eight-channel, 440-watt digital amplifier for low distortion and faithful reproduction of a wide range of musical types.
- 60/40 fold-down rear seats as well as a trunk equipped with a grocery hook, a utility box and luggage net.
- Four-wheel disc brakes, power windows, door locks, power side mirrors, cruise control and halogen headlamps with automatic on/off feature
- Dual-stage advanced SRS airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and driver's knee airbag.
- Driver assist technologies including anti-lock brake system (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
Prius
Commuters can drive avoid frequent stops at the gas pump with Toyota's Prius, the company's first and highest performing hybrid vehicle.
A mid-size car with room for four passengers, the Prius delivers an EPA-estimate rating of 48 /45 MPOG for city/highway driving. Toyota engineers designed the Prius to provide economy alongside performance—it can go from zero-to-60 mph acceleration in about 10 seconds.
Among the standard features offered by Prius are:
- Automatic air conditioning system that ensures passenger comfort even when the car is operating on its electric motor.
- Rear window intermittent wiper and cabin air filtration system.
- Power windows, power door locks and remote keyless entry
- Six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system.
- 60/40 split fold-down rear seatbacks for generous cargo capacity and
- Extensive safety features including driver and passenger dual-stage front airbags
- Driver assist technologies including anti-lock brake system (ABS) integrates Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution, (EBD). Brake Assist (BA) can help apply maximum braking pressure during an emergency stop.