A new hybrid heart may beat in Toyota's multi-purpose car
M Anand
Jan 19: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan, is exploring the possibilities of fitting its latest ``hybrid engine system'' in the family-type multi-purpose vehicle it plans to introduce in India.The company's hybrid technology, which combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor, has been known to offer almost twice the fuel economy of a conventional car under Japanese test conditions. The new technology which emits only half the carbon dioxide of a conventional car, also reduces the emmission of other gases to only one-tenth of current Japanese standards. Toyota Motor has successfully fitted the new engine system in its new car model - the `Prius'. The electric motor of the car not only generates power, but also captures deceleration energy from specially designed brakes and turns it into electricity. ``We plan to launch a utility vehicle model only in late 1999 and there is a lot of time left for us to make a final decision regarding the engine. The hybrid system is also a possibility. A lot can
happen in two years,'' a senior official from Toyota Motor Corporation told The Financial Express. Denying rumours that the popular `Kijang' will be introduced here, company sources said an all new model is being designed specially for India. ``The first prototype of the family-type multi-purpose vehicle aimed at India, will be ready by March this year. However, for the time-being, the prototype is being fitted with a diesel engine,'' company sources said. Meanwhile, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd (TKML) has decided to steer away from debt in funding its project for the manufacture family-type multi-purpose vehicles. The company has decided to finance the Rs 700 crore project entirely through equity. ``Both us and our joint venture partner have adequate resources. We have therefore decided to bring all the funds required for the project as equity,''a Toyota Motor Corporation source said. Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd, a 74:26 joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and the Kirloskar group is
setting up the utility vehicle project in Bidadi, 35 km away from Bangalore. The project will have an initial capacity of 50,000 vehicles per annum and has targeted a production of 20,000 during the first year. The company has already acquired 500 acres of land and has commenced levelling work. Construction is expected to start shortly. ``An initial localisation target of 50 per cent has been set for the utility vehicle. We will work within the framework of the new automotive policy and try to strike an optimal balance between exports and indigenisation,'' company sources said. ``However, the engine and transmission will be imported,'' they added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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