Category: Toyota

Toyota's hybrid vehicles have saved their owners 25 billion litres of petrol - enough fuel, theoretically, for each of their cars to travel around the Earth... and then some.

The calculation was revealed by the world's leading carmaker when it announced it has sold more than nine million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles around the world, including more than 85,800 delivered in Australia.

The latest milestone, achieved in April, comes as Toyota Australia prepares to introduce its newest hybrid, Corolla, early in the second half of this year.

Toyota's parent company in Japan has revealed that the total fuel saving from its nine million hybrids represents an average of more than 2,770 litres per vehicle compared with driving petrol-only cars of similar size.

The saving would provide enough fuel for each of those vehicles to travel at least 52,400km, or 1.3 times around the equator, based on a nominal average consumption of 5.3 litres per 100km. Three-quarters of the nine million hybrids use less than this amount of fuel.

Instead of doing that, of course, Toyota's hybrid owners have pocketed billions of dollars in savings.

Toyota has also estimated its hybrid vehicles have resulted in approximately 67 million fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions than would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance^.

Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the extent to which hybrid vehicles had found homes in driveways around the world confirmed them as a mainstream option for motorists.

"Toyota's hybrid vehicles are renowned for their performance, reliability, durability and exceptionally low running costs as well as their contribution to the environment and to saving precious fossil fuels," Mr Cramb said.

"In Australia, we are looking forward to bringing Toyota's full hybrid technology to the country's best-selling car, Corolla - a move that will further broaden the market appeal of both," he said.

Corolla hybrid hatch will be introduced as a well-specified single grade, expanding the local company's Hybrid Synergy Drive offerings to a fifth model.

It will join Camry, which is the best-selling hybrid vehicle in Australia with 37,879 deliveries - almost double the Prius tally of 19,682 cars - followed by Prius c (7,432) and Prius v (3,430).

Globally, Toyota's total is led by the world's best-selling hybrid, Prius, with 3.7 million sales since its debut in Japan in December 1997. Prius c has reached 1.25 million sales, Prius v 634,000 and Camry hybrid 574,000.

While it took 10 years for Toyota to achieve one million global hybrid sales, it has sold eight million in the past nine years and has averaged more than one million hybrid sales a year since 2009.

The company's hybrid vehicles are sold in more than 90 markets.

Toyota has positioned hybrid advances as core environmental technologies for the 21st century. Using these technologies, Toyota is also working on improving non-hybrid cars.

TOYOTA HYBRID MILESTONES

Toyota has advanced the pioneering status of its iconic Prius hybrid car by revealing a fourth-generation model that debuts a futuristic design, fun-to-drive dynamics and an impressive gain to fuel economy.

A new, stiffer platform - the first developed under Toyota's New Generation Architecture (TNGA) program - is at the heart of revolutionary improvements that support a more responsive driving experience and enhanced occupant protection.

In keeping with the Prius name which means "front runner", the new-generation car continues to build on its eco-car DNA with technical breakthroughs including the world's most thermally efficient petrol engine at 40 per cent.

This remarkable achievement, which provides a significant improvement in fuel efficiency, is due to the adoption of new or substantially revised components that were effectively blueprinted to the finest limits and tolerances.

Engineers also succeeded with a comprehensive program of size and weight reductions for major hybrid components while maintaining overall performance, confirming Prius as the global pacesetter in hybrid technology.

The cutting-edge development program for the new Prius also focused on a more responsive drive experience achieved through a lower centre of gravity, newly developed double-wishbone rear suspension and a more rigid body.

The all-new rear double wishbone suspension produces a better connection to the road, providing greater control and feedback in all driving conditions. A more rigid body helps improve responsiveness while cornering without sacrificing ride quality or occupant comfort.

Unveiled at a special event in Las Vegas ahead of its international motor-show debut in Frankfurt next week and an Australian launch early in 2016, the new Prius exterior has completely evolved.

It features a dramatic low-slung silhouette that is approximately 60mm longer, 15mm wider and 20mm lower, delivering a much more planted on-road presence with a lower centre of gravity and more space for occupants and their luggage.

Designers embraced Toyota's concept of "Iconic Human-tech" to blend flowing curves with aggressive cut edges, producing ground-breaking advances and aerodynamic innovations that display a sculptural quality.

The bonnet is lower and the most distinctive Prius cue - the roof peak - has been moved forward, creating an athletic shape inspired by a runner in the starting blocks.

The sporty theme for the new Prius is accentuated by the Toyota emblem in the front grille sitting at exactly the same height as on Toyota's 86 sports car. It is flanked by new headlamps that minimise frontal area while providing a striking light display that helps define the vehicle's distinctive character.

Bold character lines run along the side from the front fenders - one just above the sill that sweeps up towards the rear fender, while the upper crease morphs into the rear spoiler, which has been lowered.

Striking rear combination lamps express the distinctive lines of the Prius from the rear spoiler to the trailing edges of the sides.

Exterior colours include an "Emotional Red", which utilises a newly developed treatment process to achieve a deep and vibrant lustre.

The new Prius interior also embraces Toyota's concept of "Iconic Human-tech" with a strong presence that adopts advanced technology complemented by features that are functional, fun and have high visual impact.

Owners will be rewarded with the comfort and utility offered by a wrap-around cockpit, form-hugging seat design, easy-to-use controls and increased visibility.

A sense of quality and space is created through the wide instrument panel with its layered construction that clearly defines the "display zone", separating it from the "control zone" which is now closer to the driver.

The next-generation Prius will make available a package of electronic safety assistance aids including a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, automatic high beam and active cruise control.

Prius global chief engineer Kouji Toyoshima said nearly every aspect of Prius has been improved to create a car that will appeal to the senses in its own right, above its well-recognised green credentials.

"There is much more to the new Prius than a green image. From the bold design to the quality interior, the Prius has never had such a powerful presence," Mr Toyoshima said.

Prius - with more than 3.5 million sold globally - has popularised hybrid technology to the point it has now become mainstream. The fourth-generation Prius is ground- breaking in its own right.

"We have developed an even-better Prius by expanding its environmentally sensitive DNA while ramping up its desirability with an emotional design and an engaging drive. It offers a new perspective of what a hybrid can be."

Toyota New Generation Architecture is an innovative development program designed to enhance product appeal through improved core vehicle performance and new technologies.

It promotes the strategic sharing of powertrain components and vehicle platforms with the goal of improving resource efficiency by better than 20 per cent.

Toyota has posted an impressive global milestone with confirmation it has sold its seven-millionth hybrid vehicle.

Firmly established as the world's largest producer of hybrid vehicles, the tally includes 3.3 million sold in Japan, 2.5 million in the United States, 770,000 in Europe and more than 67,000 in Australia.

The latest one-million sales were achieved in record time - just nine months after Toyota (including Lexus) reached the six-million hybrid threshold in December last year, which doubled the three million total passed in February 2011. Globally, Prius accounts for almost half the overall total with 3.36 million sales - making it easily the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle.

In Australia, the locally built Camry accounts for more than half the 55,442 hybrids sold by Toyota dealers, followed by Prius with almost 19,000 sales. Local Lexus dealers have sold 12,244 hybrids, led by the CT 200h and the RX 450h.

TMC estimates its hybrid vehicles have cut carbon-dioxide emissions by approximately 49 million tonnes* and saved approximately 18 million kilolitres* of fuel compared with vehicles of similar size and driving performance using petrol-only engines.

Toyota began selling the Prius in the Japan in 1997 and in Australia in 2001. Camry Hybrid has been built and sold in Australia since 2010 while the Prius was expanded into a family of three vehicles in 2012 with the addition of the Prius c city car and the Prius v seven-seater.

Over the 17 years since the first Prius was launched, Toyota has endeavoured to encourage the mass-market adoption of hybrid vehicles, which use less fuel and emit fewer tailpipe emissions than equivalent petrol-only models. Toyota has positioned hybrid and its related developments as core technologies for the 21st century. The company therefore plans to continue working to enhance performance, reduce costs and expand its product line-up to create vehicles that are popular with consumers.

Toyota's hybrid sales - Australia