Toyota Launches New Hybrid: Sai
Roomier than Prius, new car to initially be sold only in Japan.
Toyota Motor Corp has announced its second hybrid only car, known as the Sai. Bigger, roomier and more expensive than the Prius, Toyota is hoping for monthly sales of 3,000 Sai’s in Japan.
Introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, the new hybrid vehicle gets 54 miles to the gallon – nearly twice the average mileage of gas only vehicles. This better mileage is achieved through the car’s switching from gas to electric power. These cars have become very popular during the economic slump – while Detroit’s gas-guzzling SUV’s have become pariahs.
The new Toyota Sai has a more powerful engine than the Prius (a 2.4 liter engine compared to the 1.8 liter engine of the Prius) and has a look that is similar in style the Lexus HS 250H. The company thus far is mum on plans to roll out the new vehicle on the international market. If introduced to the U.S. the Toyota Sai would compete directly with the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Toyota Motor Corp. has led the way in the green automotive movement and has reaped the financial rewards. The company enjoys a comfortable lead in automotive hybrid technology, being the innovator in the market. Though the automotive company is the world’s largest automaker, it has been losing market share to Korean automaker Hyundai, who introduced the world’s first LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) hybrid in July.
Globally, Toyota Motor Corp. expects to sell 500,000 to 600,000 this year. The Sai, which goes on sale in Japan beginning December 7 will have a price tag of about $37,290.
