Toyota unveils hybrid version of flagship Crown - GreenHybrid

Jason · #1 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. on Monday unveiled the latest lineup of its flagship Crown series featuring for the first time a hybrid engine and a safety system to make sure drivers are fully awake.
Toyota is expected this year to move past Detroit giant General Motors as the world's top-selling automaker, in part due to its success in pioneering eco-friendly hybrid cars at a time of high prices at the pump.
Toyota introduced three models of its Crown, its flagship domestic line, including one with a petrol-electric hybrid engine.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...N7BT5vHhFr0f_g

gumby · #2 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

The new models to be sold in Japan are installed with a pre-crash safety system, billed as a world first by Toyota, which detects if drivers' eyes are fully open, the company said.

Once the system catches that a driver's eyes are closed for a while, it gives out an alert and forces the vehicle to stop when a risk of collision arises, the company said.

So much for that "no look" driving style!

bwilson4web · #3 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by article

. . .
"The Lexus is the universal brand while we target a different customer group with the Crown," Watanabe said.

I'm really interested in test driving one now. If we're talking about an upscale Camry without the fluff of a Lexus . . . hummmm.

I've always thought of the Crown as the "Buick" equivalent although it may be more of a Cadillac-killer.

Bob Wilson

Indigo · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 05:59 AM

Wasn't there already a hybrid Crown a few years ago in Japan? If memory serves, it used the mild-hybrid THS/M architecture instead of HSD. THS/M was never sold in the States, but it greatly resembles BAS in that it is a 36v start/stop system.

ken1784 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 06:37 PM

The THS-M mild hybrid Crown is on sale since August 2001 and is still listed on their web.
It is not popular, though.
http://toyota.jp/Showroom/All_toyota...mechanism.html

Ken@Japan

bwilson4web · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken1784

The THS-M mild hybrid Crown is on sale since August 2001 and is still listed on their web.
It is not popular, though.
http://toyota.jp/Showroom/All_toyota...mechanism.html

Good grief! Is this what GM got from Toyota for their 'mild' hybrids??

GACK!!!

Bob Wilson

ken1784 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 08:36 AM

GM's mild BAS hybrid was 5 years later than THS-M.
GM's full two-mode hybrid was 10 years later than THS in 1997.

Ken@Japan