SEMA: Toyota's SEMA Hybrids
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:
Click image to enlarge placard
HIGHLANDER HYBRID TURBO SPORT
Click image to enlarge placard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
required 4:03PM (11/01/2006)
More info on that jacked up FJCruiser please!!!
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Jason 4:22PM (11/01/2006)
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.
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Juan 4:55PM (11/01/2006)
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.
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JG 5:13PM (11/01/2006)
Senior citizens centers around the country will be outraged by this. "What have done to our Camry?"
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Erik 5:29PM (11/01/2006)
Exactly what I would expect from Toyota
B O R I N G
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Alain 5:41PM (11/01/2006)
Derisive, lacking quality, Toyota.
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Graham 5:44PM (11/01/2006)
So wait, adding a turbo and intercooler gained them 37hp? I must be missing something here.
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Fabulo 6:27PM (11/01/2006)
"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.
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Eric L. 6:51PM (11/01/2006)
You did mean the 3.5L V6 right? 3.3L is old school.
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MikeW 10:05PM (11/01/2006)
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.
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John 12:46PM (11/05/2006)
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.
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