Toyota on Monday launched a fully redesigned, upmarket hybrid minivan, with fuel economy improved to 20 kilometres per litre of petrol, comparable to that of a compact car, thanks to use of a smaller motor and battery.
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Kyodo News reported that the seven-seat, four-wheel-drive Estima G [the model line’s export nameplate is Previa] with a 2.4-litre engine also boasts better acceleration and sells for JPY4.41m, about JPY500,000 more expensive than comparable petrol-powered vehicles.
Monthly sales are targeted at 700 units.
The Estima hybrid, launched in 2001, was the world’s first hybrid minivan.
Since debuting the world’s first mass-produced hybrid in 1997, the Prius, Toyota had sold 630,000units worldwide to the end of April and now has a range of 11 of the ‘eco-friendly’ models.
With the aim of raising the cumulative sales figure to 1 million units, Toyota reportedly said it aims to introduce a more sophisticated hybrid system within two to three years, halving the price difference between hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles.
