2007 Geneva Motor Show
Toyota at Geneva Motor Show
- ’s aim: zero emissions
- Hybrid powertrain is Toyota’s core environmental technology
- Two new hybrid concepts: Hybrid X and FT-HS
- Auris Show Car
- Avensis range upgrade for more refinement
Toyota’s commitment to a comprehensive vision of sustainable mobility is seen at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with the debut of two hybrid concepts that clearly demonstrate the wide range of personal transport solutions which Hybrid Synergy Drive® can provide.
Toyota is using the Geneva Motor Show to restate its commitment to finding and implementing solutions that make cars less of an environmental burden. Toyota’s world-leading hybrid technology is at the core of this strategy as it moves along the path towards the ultimate eco-car.
In this context, Toyota believes powertrain innovation can contribute to environmental solutions in three ways: by improving fuel efficiency, by making exhaust emissions cleaner and by supporting energy diversification. At the same time, Hybrid Synergy Drive® is becoming an enabler for vehicle concept innovation and allowing Toyota to push forward to new frontiers.
Geneva Motor Show 2007 marks the world premiere of Hybrid X – a concept car that proposes a new design language for hybrid models while also acting as a technology showcase for future hybrid cars. Hybrid X has been created and developed by Toyota’s European styling centre, ED², and is conceived as a four door, four seat concept model which is exceptionally spacious and comfortable.
In complete contrast, the concept car FT-HS, Future Toyota Hybrid Sports, presents Toyota’s vision of the 21st century sports car. By combining an advanced hybrid powertrain with essential sports cars fundamentals, FT-HS overcomes the dilemma that eco-friendliness must compromise driving pleasure. FT-HS concept is a front-engine, rear-drive sports car with a projected 0- acceleration in the four-second range. A powerful V6, 3.5-litre engine is coupled with a next generation, sports hybrid system with a target power output of approximately 400 horsepower.
The Auris Show Car, on display, reveals for the first time in Europe the three-door version of the Auris with an exclusive body colour and fitted with special wheels.
Auris has a clear role to play in Toyota’s strategy of driving down vehicle emissions through innovative design and powertrain development. Designers at ED2 have created an original and distinctive shape that is ‘short and tall’ by maximising interior space and passenger comfort while also reducing the vehicle footprint and easing congestion at the same time. Neither has the tall design of Auris compromised fuel consumption. Best-in-class aerodynamics (Cd=0.29) mean less drag while advanced Toyota powertrain technologies reduce fuel consumption with both petrol and diesel engines.
The Toyota Avensis, Toyota’s flagship model in Europe, is upgraded with extra hi-tech premium features and more refinement all packed into a new GPS-grade to offer outstanding quality and refinement. Features include touch-screen, full map navigation with digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and an MP3 player connection. New 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels and specific exterior colour are also offered on the GPS-grade.
With Avensis, Toyota once again demonstrates its concern for the environment and commitment to reducing harmful emissions. The 2007 Avensis offers a fully competitive, highly fuel efficient diesel engine range including the 2.2-litre D-4D 180 Clean Power, the cleanest diesel engine in its segment, and the new D-4D 125 available with a diesel particulate filter. Toyota: Today for Tomorrow
Toyota’s vision of sustainable mobility
- Aiming for zero emissions
- Hybrid is Toyota’s core environmental technology
- Substantial progress already made
- Looking to the next horizon
As one of the world’s leading global vehicle manufacturers Toyota has long recognised its corporate responsibility for the environment and for the communities in which it operates. Today, at the Geneva Motor Show, Toyota restates its commitment to finding and implementing solutions that make cars less of an environmental burden.
This commitment translates into a comprehensive vision of sustainable mobility. Toyota’s extensive research and development programmes examine every aspect of vehicle design, performance, safety and the information infrastructure that will underpin driving tomorrow.
The first basic policy of Toyota’s Earth Charter, developed as long ago as 1992, states: “in order to contribute towards a prosperous 21st century society, aim for growth that is in harmony with the environment and challenge achievement of zero emissions throughout all areas of business activities”.
Motor vehicles interact with the environment throughout their entire lifecycle – from their initial design and the way they are manufactured, to their use on the road and their eventual disposal when no longer needed. For Toyota, minimizing these kinds of environmental impact has long been a top priority at every level of the company’s organisation and activity.
And building completely recyclable cars with zero net emissions is Toyota’s foremost challenge for the years to come.
In recent years, the automobile industry has made great progress in reducing the environmental burden of motor vehicles. Today there are over 200 million cars in use on the roads of Europe, providing freedom of mobility for every type of driver, and it is estimated that 24% of Europe’s CO2 emissions are generated by the transport sector.
Toyota is exploring simultaneously a broad variety of solutions for developing cleaner, greener vehicles. Powertrain innovation can contribute to this endeavour in three ways: by improving fuel efficiency, by making exhaust emissions cleaner and by supporting energy diversification.
Since humans learned to harness fossil fuels to power machines the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen steadily. Toyota is developing more efficient automobile engines and transmissions to help control emissions and mitigate the dangers of global warming.
Ultimately, as the world’s energy needs escalate, automotive fuels will have to diversify in response to rising petroleum prices, depreciation of petroleum reserves and other pressures. Alternative fuels made from plant sources hold the additional promise of sustainable renewability.
Hybrid is Toyota’s core environmental technology
Toyota has already made significant progress in the evolution of its Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology since the launch of the original Prius, the world’s first volume production petrol-electric hybrid car, in 1997 in Japan.
Launched in Europe in 2001, Prius moved into the second generation in 2003 and was further revised at the start of 2006 to offer a fresh face and improved interior comfort and quality. At the same time, sharper driving dynamics were introduced with a series of chassis, suspension and steering enhancements.
First generation Prius‘ carbon dioxide emissions showed level of improvement of around 20% compared to conventional powertrain. For the second generation Prius, these emissions have again further fallen by 15%, from 120 g/km down to 104 g/km, while driving performance has increased. The current Prius matches the performance of many C-segment family cars with a top speed of 170 km/h and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 10.9 seconds.