Toyota Sai to be brand's second dedicated hybrid, goes on sale Oct. 20 in Japan
2009 Lexus HS 250h - Click above for high-res image gallery
Even though there have been plenty of reports that Toyota would apply the Prius name to other hybrids in its lineup, thereby creating a Prius sub-brand, the upcoming second dedicated hybrid from the Japanese automaker bearing the Toyota name will be simply named the Toyota Sai. The Sai goes on sale in Japan on October 20th and slots in between the Prius and the Crown hybrid.
Featuring a more powerful engine than the Prius (a 2.4-liter gasoline engine compared to the 1.8-liter in the Prius), the Sai will look similar to the Lexus HS 250h (pictured) and will be based on the same underpinnings. Lexus has been selling the HS 250h in Japan since July and in the U.S. for a few weeks.
Toyota isn't giving out any clues about the car's overseas potential, but if the car ever comes to the U.S., it'll join the Camry hybrid as a pretty solid competitor to the Ford Fusion hybrid. There's a market for some Toyota badge engineering mixed with hybrid tech here, right?
Gallery: Lexus HS 250h
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jruhi4 8:06AM (10/02/2009)
Plans may have changed, of course, but it is my understanding that the Toyota Sai will be for the Japanese Domestic Market only, and will NOT be available in North America.
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robert bell 8:29AM (10/02/2009)
big implication here is that Toyota, a world leader in autos, is rushing to fill out its line with alternative propulsion. Whether or not , hybrids are the ultimate answer, Totota is betting big they will be, at least, a major force in the foreseeable future vs. internal combustion alone.
We keep hearing how hybrids are not the ultimate answer because battery technology limits range and performance. But now posit what would happen if there is a quantum advance in battery performance, with a combination of weight reduction, longer range and faster re-charging capability. If that were to occur, any company who has acquired exerience with the hybrid system would have a leg up vs. the competition. Obviously, Toyota is betting on such a future.
And, while we have a Japanese company leading the way in hybrids and German companies breaking new ground in diesel, both standard and hybrid combinaitons, what are the Big Three doing? GM's gamble on the VOLT had better work or it is going to be stuck with a car twice as expensive as the competition and appealing only to a small market niche.
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nardvark 8:35AM (10/02/2009)
Presumably, if Toyota gets access to a huge development in battery technology, then so do Ford and GM. Thus, the Fusion Hybrid will still be superior to the Camry Hybrid, and the Volt will no longer be twice as expensive as the Prius. You know, because it's using the same magical batteries you came up with.
Or is science going to come up with a battery that only runs on Japanese electrons?
jv2k 11:21AM (10/02/2009)
The volt is more of a picture of what future cars will look like than anything in toyota's line right now for the simple reason that it is a true electric vehicle. Electricity and electricty moves the wheels alone.
The volt isn't going to be a volume seller it's a step towards putting the technology into production. GM could probably sweaten the deal if they take a hit and make the volt just one fully loaded model for the current price we hear about it.
Yea base volt at 30k wont hold up, but if it has all the bells and whistles it'll be price competitive to similar trims and it should work out.
daleam 11:34AM (10/02/2009)
The design behind the Volt is the future of hybrid, if there is a future in hybrid. It is also easily converted to pure electric. Just remove the engine and add more batteries. Diesel? Swap the engine. Hydrogen? Pop in a fuel cell instead of an engine. It can all be done on the same platform without changing the mechanicals which drive the wheels. Make no mistake, Toyota is looking at the Volt and if production costs can be seriously cut, Volt will become a success.
scott.brownlee 8:42AM (10/02/2009)
It's a Lexus HS 250, is it not?
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mk15 9:00AM (10/02/2009)
It is. But Lexus does not sell all that well in Japan, customers seem to prefer the Toyota-badged version given a choice between a Toyota or Lexus badge.
Bloke 9:53AM (10/02/2009)
Here's what the blog says:
"Featuring a more powerful engine than the Prius (a 2.4-liter gasoline engine compared to the 1.8-liter in the Prius), the Sai will look similar to the Lexus HS 250h (pictured) and will be based on the same underpinnings."
Gary 11:11AM (10/02/2009)
Hey, Toyota's on board with badge-engineering as well. I think it's a requirement when you're the largest auto maker in the world.
Luis 9:25AM (10/02/2009)
Why not improve the Hybrid drive in the Camry first, to better match it up to the Fusion, instead of inserting another model in the same price range. Apparently some of Toyota's GM-tendencies haven't been flushed out yet.
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Rick 9:44AM (10/02/2009)
I saw one of these hybrids on the freeway a few days ago and I swore it was a Corolla S with a kit until I passed it and noticed the strange front end. Then it occurred to me that it was the hybrid and I then noticed the L on the grill. They are small and look like Corollas. But at least 1 person has bought one.
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Danimal 9:55AM (10/02/2009)
sucker.
steve 11:45AM (10/02/2009)
Why would they make this now if they can't keep up with the orders for the Lexus version?
"Once again, a hybrid sales success may mean shortages for Toyota as the Japanese automaker rolls out a desirable new product here in the United States. First, the new-for-2010 Prius hatchback proved to be such a stellar sales champ that Toyota found its production hampered by a shortage of batteries. Now, Automotive News reports that the new Lexus HS 250h is in such high demand in Japan that Toyota may not be able to provide an adequate supply of the luxury hybrid model here in the States.
Toyota had initially targeted 500 sales per month of the HS 250h in its home market, but a number of government-backed sales incentives and tax breaks for hybrid vehicles has boosted demand for the new sedan so much that Toyota saw 10,000 orders in its first month on sale in Japan. The Lexus HS 250h is scheduled to hit U.S. dealerships next month with a base price of $35,075 (including shipping), barring any unforeseen supply restrictions."
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Dustin 12:35PM (10/02/2009)
Yes there is a market for Toyota badge engineering with hybrid tech, but it's already here as the Lexus HS - a Prius with a Camry hybrid engine. It doesn't need to be rebadged yet again.
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P.V. 2:03PM (10/02/2009)
I realize that those pictures are of the HS, but I've seen pictures (I guess they're renderings...?) of the new Sai and can attest to the fact that they are simply rebadged HSs. I don't think Toyota would ever go that low in terms of outright rebadging.
More surprising though is the fact that this is being sold in Japan as a Toyota (because Lexus has been in Japan for a few years now). Can anyone answer this?
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pamuckraker 6:04PM (10/02/2009)
Read this about Toyota's massive upcoming recall: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/13149#more-13149
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the friendly grizzly 11:31AM (10/03/2009)
That car would fail in the US market. It is not unique in design like the Prius, so fashion-statement buyers will not be interested.
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Paul Tan 3:11PM (10/03/2009)
some pix:
http://paultan.org/2009/09/27/lexus-hs250h-to-get-toyota-sai-counterpart/
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