Toyota Focuses On Hybrid Power Future At Geneva

KEY POINTS

• World debut of Yaris HSD hybrid concept at Geneva motor show
• Unveiling of Prius+, Europe’s first seven-seat full hybrid
• Toyota’s show stand devoted to Hybrid Synergy Drive technologies, including plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel cell hybrid vehicles
• Toyota FT-86 II set to make its world premiere

Toyota will unveil the next major advances in its hybrid power technology strategy for sustainable future transport at the 2011 Geneva motor show.

The occasion will mark the world debut of Yaris HSD, a new concept heralding a production model that will bring Toyota full hybrid power to the B-segment – Europe’s largest market sector. The next step in Toyota’s roll-out of full hybrid versions of its complete model range in Europe, the Yaris HSD concept incorporates hybrid-specific styling cues and new, forward-looking design elements.

Prius+ will also be unveiled at Geneva, the first car to offer European customers the versatility of seven seats with a full hybrid powertrain. As its name suggests, Prius+ – similar to the Prius v that was unveiled in North America last month – provides significantly more passenger accommodation and loadspace than its sister hatchback model, without sacrificing essential Prius attributes, such as class-leading fuel economy and ultra-low emissions.

Going beyond these world-first presentations, Toyota will also be demonstrating the versatility of hybrid power technologies to achieve high efficiency and low or zero emissions in a wide range of vehicle types, including Plug-in Hybrids (PHV), Electric Vehicles (EV) and Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles (FCHV) – all of which feature in its product strategy for the present decade.

Alongside the hybrids on the Toyota stand, a new evolution of the Toyota FT-86 sports concept vehicle is set to make its world premiere. The Toyota FT-86 II builds on the original concept and will give the clearest indication yet of the final design for Toyota’s next sports car. Toyota’s sports car history goes back more than 50 years and this new concept embodies the company’s reborn passion for sports car driving.

ENDS