Japanese car major Toyota Motor Corp
is planning its first dedicated hybrid
model for its Lexus luxury line.
Reports said that the launch would
happen in 2009.
The model is expected to be the
cheapest hybrid under the Lexus brand.
The hybrid derivatives account for
more than 70 per cent of the brand's
sales in the UK, Lexus' biggest market
in Europe. The new Lexus hybrid would
be sold in Japan and Europe, said the
report. Toyota is also planning
another dedicated hybrid car by 2009
after the international success of the
Prius.
With hybrids high on the agenda,
Toyota has said it wants to double the
number of hybrid models it offers from
the current seven to help it reach a
goal of selling one million units of
the fuel-efficient vehicles annually,
soon after 2010.
The company’s earlier Lexus LS 460 had
come equipped with an all-new 4.6L V-8
engine that is coupled to the world's
first 8-speed automatic transmission.
It, in fact, charmed the enthusiasts
with an all-new chassis and a
reconfigured multilink suspension.
Among the various features, the car’s
next-generation vehicle dynamics
integrated management system, real
time traffic updates on the navigation
system, intelligent park assist, power
parking brake that has
hill-holder/stop-light anti-rollback
feature and HVAC system that monitors
both cabin and body temperature, did
really mesmerize.
The company’s first dedicated hybrid
model in its Lexus luxury line, which
would be unveiled in two years time,
is expected to be even better.
Automobile enthusiasts are waiting.
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