SAI PHOTOS: Toyota Unveils Bigger, More Expensive Hybrid Car

ASSOCIATED PRESS, BY YURI KAGEYAMA:

TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. has unveiled a more expensive and bigger hybrid-only model than its hit Prius, underlining the Japanese automaker's ambitions to make green technology more widespread.

The "Sai" sedan is Toyota's second hybrid-only model after the Prius. Toyota offers hybrid versions of other car models.

Sai, which means "talent" and "color," will be sold only in Japan, starting Dec.7, targeting monthly sales of 3,000 vehicles. No global sales plans have been decided, the world's biggest automaker said Tuesday.

Hybrids get better mileage than regular gasoline engine cars by switching between an electric motor and a gas engine. Other automakers are also beefing up their hybrid lineups, including hybrid-only models.

• • • Journalists view the Toyota Motor Corp's hybrid sedan "Sai" during the news conference in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. The Sai is a more expensive and bigger hybrid-only model than its popular Prius. (AP)

Government incentives, including cash-for-clunkers programs, and tax breaks are sending Prius orders soaring in Japan, with the waiting list for the car growing to several months.

Hybrid sales in Japan have been the one bright spot for Toyota, which has been losing money, battered by the global economic slump.

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The Sai gets 23 kilometers per liter, or about 54 miles per gallon, double the mileage of a comparable regular gas-engine model, according to Toyota.

The Prius gets 38 kilometers per liter, which converts to about 90 miles per gallon under Japanese mileage-test conditions. It is promising 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway in the U.S.

The Sai comes with a bigger 2.4 liter engine compared to the 1.8-liter Prius, is roomier and has fancier features such as an interior made from plastic that uses plant-derived materials.

It is also more expensive, starting at 3.38 million yen ($37,500). The third-generation Prius, which went on sale earlier this year, starts at just over 2 million yen ($22,000) in Japan and about $22,000 in the U.S.

The Sai looks rather sedate compared to the Prius with its more circular styling.

"This model shows our hopes to make hybrids more widespread," Toyota official Takuji Nakamoto told reporters.

The Sai will be sold at all dealer outlets in Japan, totaling some 4,000 nationwide, like the Prius. Some Toyota models are sold at just some of the showrooms because they are designed to appeal to certain kinds of consumers.

The Sai will be assembled at a Toyota Motor Kyushu plant in southwestern Japan, Toyota said.

The Prius is the world leader in gas-electric hybrid sales, selling more than 1.4 million vehicles since its debut a decade ago.

Comments

[MurCal]

Great, just what the world needs, another overpriced luxury car. How very, very green.

[ccpostman]

A normal looking car!

[landoffreee]

For a more perfect unions we must have:

Jobs,job securi.ty, job benefits, universal pre school-K.12, housing, affordable college education affordable health are that doesn't ban.krupt sic.k families

good articles; http://ow.ly/dmzm

a better society is one that creates opportunity & while providing safety nets and welfare programs for disadvantaged

[DFL]

Out of a good job yet? -keep buying foreign brands, any relatives or neighbors lose a job lately?

[NedroidPrime]

Ahh, so it is ok to get ripped off as long as it is the home team?

Do some checking, most of these vehicles (Honda and Toyota) are assembled in the US, employing many people. While the domestics have cut jobs in Ohio, Honda has added them. Guess what, they employ Americans at all levels at these plants.

[Vernon Brown]

DFL is living in the freaking 50's

[mamacat]

Haven't read about it in any American media, but in the English language version of JapanToday.comm" they were reporting that Toyota plans to release a small hybrid car that will cost less than $20k and get about 89mpg. If Toyota does unveil a good, inexpensive, high-mileage hybrid, it could dominate the small car market in America.

[SimonSezz]

Follow the leader

[Rudy Luevano]

I don't if the design team is so uninspired because more of their cars are manufactured in America, or because they feel they can get away with it due to their car's reliability. So sad considering they made some beautiful celica/supras and even the camry and corollas were quite nice back in the day. Unfortunately the alternative is to buy a great looking american car that will fall apart after a few years.

[KIVPossum]

You show me a Prius owner who says they get 38 kilometers per liter and I'll show you a liar.

[NedroidPrime]

That is what people don't seem to understand about the hybrids. If you are sitting in traffic all day, it helps. However, if you do a mix of highway and city driving, the difference will be marginal at best. Highway only will net you no noticeable difference.

[prthatrocks]

I have a 2005 Prius. I can drive from San Francisco to Anaheim on a 12 gallon tank of gas, at 83 MPH with the AC on and be sucking fumes when I get there. That averages about 41 MPG, or a 492 mile range. It's cheaper and more relaxing - and takes that same time, about six to seven hours door-to-door, with stops - compared to flying SFO to Orange County.

[plages]

American market only!

[ClownPosse]

$37,500.00 !

Suckers !

[mykebee]

Purchase for an extra $7k and save $300/yr on gas. Brilliant!

And, if everyone had one we'd need to triple the coal burning electric power plants.

Now, THAT'S a plan that works well. Screw the environment, screw the consumer and let's just scrape the profit off the top right up front. Just like Wall St, huh?

[quantumspin]

Toyota is a master of bland, uninspired design. I see their cars on the road and yawn. What is wrong with this company's design team? All their cars look like jelly beans with big noses. Remember the 70's Fords? Bloated, year to year micro-incremental sheet metal changes---it would take them five years to adjust a wheel well curve by two millimeters. Toyota is the same way, stamping out year after year of bland, micro-incremental styles. You could easily rear end a Camry for not realizing it was in front of you, it blends so much into the background.

[aspelling]

Toyota makes soulless driving appliances.
And people enjoy buying them because a large population doesn't have the right hemisphere to control clutch pedal with their left leg. Toyota makes what sells - blend cars and SUVs (with the exception of cars brought from Japanese market Prius and FJ)

[donia1970]

..and not wanting or being able to drive a standard shift is why you see them all around you...?! GM GAVE the market to Toyota, Honda and Nissan when as the Big Cheese for so long decided to take things for granted, and started cranking out cars to last only until they were paid off.....

Some people want dependability over style, and BTW, they look as good as anything GM is cranking out these days!

[NedroidPrime]

Oh yeah, Toyota doesn't make standard transmissions at all...

Here is a bit of a tip for you: all cars are "soulless driving appliances". Some people by Toyota because of the consistently high marks in safety and reliability.

Just a question: do you name your cars or something?

[NedroidPrime]

Spoken as someone who has never driven a Camry.

I have a 2007, and I love it. Tinted windows all around, good mileage, and a smooth ride. I think it is a very sharp car compared to most of the domestics (and other foreign).

What pray tell is your idea of a good looking car? Keep in mind that you are restricted to vehicles designed for day-to-day usage (no Lamborghini, etc).

[Vernon Brown]

And you'll be stuck in it for 400,000 miles.

[Rudy Luevano]

I haven't driven the TDI Jetta, but it does sound like its more fun to drive and even gets better mileage than the prius. The prius just gets uglier and less fuel efficient with each generation. The Sai gets impressive mileage, but it's damn expensive and still gets the same mileage as a geo metro, which ran on gasoline.

[MIKEinNYC]

I just bought a Ford Hybrid, specificall a Milan. It's made in America. I consistently get between 37 and 55 mpg's and it looks and drives like a regular car. No weirdness. 600 miles between fill-ups.

We do not need to look to overseas producers to get a nice car with good gas mileage. Our people are making them now.

[koppenberg]

If by America you're including Mexico (yep, it is part of North America).

The Mercury Milan and the Ford Fusion are assembled in Mexico, while Toyota will start assembling Priuses in the U.S. along with the Camry Hybrid that's already assembled here.

[EinChicago]

Liar. Toyota abandoned plans to assemble Prius in the US. Why does this lie constantly still get bandied around by Toy.ot.a apologists?

[boomer59]

My Prius consistently gets over 50 mpg, has almost 100K miles on it and hasn't even needed a break job yet! It is the most reliable car I've ever owned; and I've owned Chrysler, Honda, Lexus, Ford, Isuzu, GM. Yes, I've bought alot of cars in my life. When American car companies can match that, I'll buy them again. BTW, the worst piece of junk I've ever owned was a Chrysler, I'll never a car from them again!

[MIKEinNYC]

I have a Ford T-Bird with 305,000 on the odo. It's still running strong. Never any engine or trans work. Never! It's used only Mobil 1. Same with all of my cars.

The most reliable car That I ever owned was/is a 2000 Chrysler LHS.

My buddy has a late-model Mercedes E-Class. Most of its mileage is accumulated running it between his house the the repair shops.

Sometimes you get lucky with cars and sometimes you don't.

[Layman23]

The hybrid technology was leased to Ford by Toyota. But hey, if Ford can make good cars thats great . Competition is always good for the consumer.

[MIKEinNYC]

Technically, Ford and Toyota cross-licensed one anothers' technology in regard to diesels and hybrids to avoid patent infringement claims.

[kkrimmer]

"The Sai will be assembled at a Toyota Motor Kyushu plant in southwestern Japan, Toyota said."

With decades having a poor economy Japan can still make cars at home.

Why can't Detroit?

[Layman23]

Unfortunately Detroit took it literally and is making decades old models like the Chrylser batmobile and rehash of the 70s.

[CoyoteMan]

Well I see all the naysayers have weighed in!
Instead of trying out a Prius or whatever hybrid all you people can have your little fantasies of inadequacy.

Fact of the matter is, the vast majority of hybrid owners are very satisfied with their choice. Gas mileage isn't a factor today but in 2010 lookout!

Oil is set to surpass $80 dollars a barrel today 10/20/09. You can bet collusion and gouging from Wall Street & big oil will send that to $90. a barrel by Oct. 31, 2009. Big oil and Wall Street's goal here is $100 to $120 a barrel in 2010. There is no recession for Wall Street & big oil!
You keep bitching & moaning about how inadequate hybrids are. You can bitch and moan more while you wait in line for $6.00 a gallon gasoline for your Big Bad Ford F-150!


The Sai will be sold in the US as the Lexus HS250.

[KIVPossum]

You don't need the baggage of a hybrid if you don't need to drive a land yacht. I have a FAW. Seats 4 comfortably. True 22 kilometes / liter, driving it hard. 7500 Euro out the door. What more do you need in a car?

[prog]

Consumer Reports gave the Toyota Prius the highest rating of value for money of all cars. It retains value, it has excellent track records, high owner satisfaction.

That speaks volumes to me.