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Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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#31 of 3943 HSD Sienna by jchan2 Jan 09, 2004 (3:43 pm)
is called the Estima in Japan. More of a Previa that lost the egg shape. Pretty nice looking. If you go to Toyota of Australia's website, they'll have something like the Previa or tha Toyota Tarago, which is similar to the Estima only minus the hybrid.
#32 of 3943 Arrogance of the GM exec. by wco81 Jan 09, 2004 (9:21 pm)
Lutz basically thinks only fringe environmentalists are interested in this.   Unfortunately, only environmentalists and technophiles may even be aware of hybrids.   All we can hope is that as more and more hybrid models get out there, they gain mindshare and greater consciousness.   Increasing gas prices will help the cause, not that any of us necessarily want to see that. But it might not be the worst thing for the environment, even if it hurts the wallet.
#33 of 3943 Raising Gas Prices by jchan2 Jan 11, 2004 (6:18 am)
would help. Not that I want high priced gasoline, but that would be the only way it would get the Excursion driver in the other lane to think twice before leasing another one.
#34 of 3943 Interior changes, design basics of HL Hybrid by scwt47 Jan 11, 2004 (9:28 am)
Interior changes: rcasel (#18) is relieved that little is changed in the interior on the HL Hybrid. The report is that the tachometer will be gone. Presumably there will be a Hybrid Synergy Drive display not unlike the one in the Prius where the tach used to live. Has to go somewhere....the Nav. system display is the other place to put it, but if the Nav. system is an option package then the tach has to go.   Design basics: Here is an Edmunds/NY Times press piece on the approach Toyota is taking: http://autoshow.edmunds.nytimes.com/news/autoshow/articles/100916- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - /page063.html   So how do they do it without "adjusting" the vehicle very much?   Being a Camry with a tall body the engine is a little low, relatively speaking. So they can stack up the Synergy Drive gear in there without having to move any sheet metal. As for the hybrid batteries, well let's just say we should not expect a 3rd seat version of the HL Hybrid. The spare tire got bottom-mounted in 2004 so the 3rd seat could be squeezed (and I do mean squeezed) in. What a nice rectangular place for a battery pack instead.   Look at this slideshow from the same source. Engine bay is now full, no sign of a third seat, but the HL Hybrid looks just like a HL. Only the rear badging and what looks like a new slot along the upper front bumper will distinquish it from its non-hybrid siblings. http://autoshow.edmunds.nytimes.com/news/autoshow/articles/100916- /page021.html?tid=nytimes.e.autoshow..leftnav.22.*   One can expect the pricing premium to be significant unless they really gear up the output. After all, if you could get this version for just $1000 over the non-Hybrid V6, who would want the other one? Look for $3000 premium, and they will probably option it up, too. Both this and the RX400H (Lexus RX Hybrid) are aimed not at the Prius end of the market, these are aimed at the FX45 end. Power, power, power. Only with politically correct fuel economy, too.   Why did they not do a Hybrid number on the 4 cylinder HL? That could probably deliver almost 200HP and the mileage would be about 40City/38Hwy. We like our power and I think Toyota read the market just right by doing the V6 Hybrid.   For those who think a $3K Hybrid price premium is a bad thing? Imagine what our old HL will be worth if Toyota prices the HL Hybrid about the same as the regular V6? Imagine our HL V6's being seen as gas guzzlers someday. I guess the HL 4-cyl owners already think that. So how much gas do we have to save to overcome the price premium?   The key is the volume Toyota sets up for. Go over to the Prius "Prices Paid and Buying Exper." board at Edmunds. It is not pretty in Praying-for-My-Prius-to-Arrive Land. Toyota would love to build them faster but either the factory or the suppliers have them stuck at the current build-rate and it is too slow.   So put your money down now and prepare to bend over in a year. And like it. Prius owners do grin a lot.
#35 of 3943 Hybrid by jchan2 Jan 11, 2004 (1:27 pm)
I'm not a Prius owner, and I'm grinning every time I see a Prius! (and every time I hit 27 MPG in my Odyssey, or break my old MPG record in my Civic) Plus, I don't like wasting gasoline.
#36 of 3943 by john1701a Jan 11, 2004 (1:43 pm)
> The report is that the tachometer will be gone.   A tachometer is completely useless in a HSD system, since there is nothing you can do with the data it would provide. It would only serve to entertain, no practical purpose. Since there aren't any gears and electric motors are at peak power no matter what the RPM... You get the idea. The gauge on the Consumption screen is far more informative in a full hybrid.   While driving along, you'll see the RPM change all by itself without effecting speed. That's good. The system is taking advantage of efficiency opportunities. Counteracting what you see happening would be counterproductive.     > well let's just say we should not expect a 3rd seat version > of the HL Hybrid   It has already been stated that there will be seating for 7.     > Why did they not do a Hybrid number on the 4 cylinder HL?   Patience, grasshopper. The more powerful one is being released first. The other will follow. In our power-obsessed market, that is unquestionably the better approach for proving the HSD design is capable of many power/efficiency configurations.   JOHN
#37 of 3943 I'll bet by jchan2 Jan 11, 2004 (5:14 pm)
the four cylinder will be out in a few years. and three rows of seats is certainly a plus.
#38 of 3943 by dgrayson Jan 12, 2004 (8:48 am)
scwt47-   Dude- you need to check some facts and read other posts on this board.   Check out the basics: http://www.toyota.com/about/news/product/2004/01/04-3-hibridhighl- ander.html   and read #18 and go to that site and look at the pics... 3rd row seat.
#39 of 3943 Specs at the bottom by jchan2 Jan 12, 2004 (4:21 pm)
note a third row seat arrangement. (seats 7!!)
#40 of 3943 Highlander or Lexus?!? by markrogo Jan 13, 2004 (7:27 pm)
I was all set to get the RX 400. Even for the outrageous price I expected to pay.   Now I'm thinking, "Hmmm.... With most of the same options, a fully-decked out Highlander would be, wht $5K less? $8K less?.... And doesn't the cargo area of the HL hold much more stuff anyway.... Then there is the much cheaper service at Toyota dealers vs. Lexus dealers...."   What do you all think?   And how can I get a pre-order in super early? My Infiniti lease ends in January....

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