John Neff's been a busy beaver at the Toyota booth at SEMA, where Toyota had two very decked-out vehicles sporting the Hybrid Synergy Drive: the Highlander Hybrid Turbo Sport and the CHiL (Camry Hybrid Limited). Just like Toyota is trying to show the crowd that its trucks are ripe for modification, it's also trying to show that hybrids can join in on the fun. The CHiL is mostly comprised of styling tweaks, the most obvious being the revised front fascia that ditches the grille. It's got 19-inch wheels that can't be good for the gas mileage, but here at SEMA, form wins out over function. The two headrest-mounted handheld computers are an interesting touch, but we'd rather watch flicks in the back than text our friends.
The Highlander HTS was much more interesting. Though it was chock full of custom styling mods like a body kit, paint, grille, hood scoop, etc., it also featured a big BorgWarner turbo added to its 3.3-liter V6. Net power jumps from 268 hp to 305 hp, and the setup looks insane under the hood with an intercooler mounted atop the engine being fed by a functional (yay!) hoodscoop. There's also a myriad of electronic equipment inside including speakers, subs, systems and all the rest.
(Photo gallery after the jump)
CHiL:
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HIGHLANDER HYBRID TURBO SPORT
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
required @ Nov 1st 2006 4:03PM
More info on that jacked up FJCruiser please!!!
Jason @ Nov 1st 2006 4:22PM
Love the dark blue dash lighting trim in the Camry. Hot! The Highlander is OLD. Been around since 2000. Can't get excited over another lame duck that's been seen for six years.
Juan @ Nov 1st 2006 4:55PM
That's a gorgeous under-hood shot of the Highlander. That two-tone scheme on it makes it look too much like an Explorer, though.
JG @ Nov 1st 2006 5:13PM
Senior citizens centers around the country will be outraged by this. "What have done to our Camry?"
Erik @ Nov 1st 2006 5:29PM
Exactly what I would expect from Toyota
B O R I N G
Alain @ Nov 1st 2006 5:41PM
Derisive, lacking quality, Toyota.
Graham @ Nov 1st 2006 5:44PM
So wait, adding a turbo and intercooler gained them 37hp? I must be missing something here.
Fabulo @ Nov 1st 2006 6:27PM
"So wait, adding a turbo and intercooler gained them 37hp? I must be missing something here."
Maybe it added 350 lb/ft of torque. We'll never know.
Eric L. @ Nov 1st 2006 6:51PM
You did mean the 3.5L V6 right? 3.3L is old school.
MikeW @ Nov 1st 2006 10:05PM
The 2gr-fe has 270hp in the RX.
One would think toyota would make a 300+hp transverse 1gr-fse for show.
The 3.3 is only rated at 208hp in hybrid duty, supposedly 5600rpm redline.
John @ Nov 5th 2006 12:46PM
That's the Ultimate FJ in the background. 1 ton axles turning 39x13.5r7 Krawler T/A's. Built by/for Petersons 4wheel and offroad www.4wheeloffroad.com.