All Toyota Models To Receive Hybrid Drivetrains By 2020

Toyota is aiming to produce hybrid variants of every model by 2020. A forerunner in the green scene, Toyota believes that their Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain, which powers the popular Toyota Prius, is versatile enough for use in every model from family sedans to sports coupes and people-carrying MPVs.

“Our hybrid technology is adaptable. There is flexibility in the application of our hybrid system”, says Gerald Killman, the man in charge of developing the hybrid systems at Toyota. “We don't want to develop a new one when we can give ours more character”.

In addition to adaptability, the hybrid drivetrain has proven to be reliable since its first appearance in 1997. Furthermore, Toyota is on the way to producing one million hybrid drivetrains this year for use in the Prius and Auris HSD models, and modifying the drivetrain characteristics to cater for other Toyota models, such as the FT-86 sports coupe and the FT-CH, which previews a rival to the Honda CR-Z, would increase economies of scale and lower production costs as a result.

AboutSeow Yaohan

Seow Yao Han strives to bring you the latest and the most comprehensive information on cars available in Malaysia. But it's never easy for him to talk and write cars in this part of the world because what you lust after is often not what you drive home. When the euphoria of test-driving that branded, super-expensive sports car dies down, he just goes home in his less-than-glamorous ride.