Toyota has high hopes for its hybrid SUVs - GreenHybrid

Jason · #1 (**permalink**) 03-26-2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Toyota Motor Corp. said it planned to sell a combined 62,000 units of its two new hybrid sport utility vehicles worldwide this year, with sales starting in most major markets over the next three months.

Japan’s top auto maker plans to export the models, called RX400h and Highlander in most overseas markets, to North America, Europe and Australia between April and June, aiming to sell a total 52,000 units abroad this calendar year.

Both SUVs can be driven 41.9 miles on a gallon of gas — comparable to a compact car and a significant improvement over the same models fueled by a gasoline engine only.

- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7266895

xcel · #2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2005, 12:45 PM

Hi Jason:

___I am beginning to see this 40 + mpg number pop up all over the place in regards to the RXh and I highly doubt it is the actuals as Toyota was speaking about 31/27 City/Highway estimates not 2 months ago? We are speaking of a 208 HP - 3.3 L ICE after Atkinsonization so I highly doubt we will see 41 mpg except under perfect conditions and setup with a hypermiler behind the wheel.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Jason · #3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2005, 12:48 PM

I agree that it sounds unlikely. But, if somehow it's true, hybrid technology is going to be much more popular than any of us could have thought.

Mpress · #4 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:16 PM

From the article it seems to me that the Japanese versions of those SUV's get 40+ miles per gallon. I'm sure they get less MPG here because we americans like to drive faster.

-Mike

Jason · #5 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:18 PM

Is it in Imperial gallons?

Hot_Georgia_2004 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:31 PM

If we could only get the general public interested in learning to drive for better economy the hybrids would really excell.

Odd how most everyone drives with a seeming attitude to dry their tanks as fast as possible!

EricGo · #7 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 10:31 PM

I suppose the 41.9 mpg could be a typo, but I vaguely recollect that Japan has it's own version of EPA numbers, that are based on testing best described as ideal conditions.

Addendum: Here is the testing used:
http://www.jaf.or.jp/qa/answer/base/base8.htm

Ken@japan wrote in PriusChat that the Prius gets a 83.5 mpg in this test.

Something to strive for :-)
I cannot tell from the graph, but I'd love to know the acceleration rate.