Meet Toyota’s New Hybrid, the Auris
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND—In 1967, Toyota produced its first hybrid. Yes, the company has a long history in hybrids before the Prius. The car was a variant of the Sports 800 GT, and its gas turbine engine connected to a generator (like the Chevy Volt), and supplied an electric motor and two-speed gearbox. In 1975, Toyota built a second variant based on its large, limousine-like Century, with a GT45 gas turbine and an electric motor. This history is interesting in light of Toyota’s stated intention to hybridize its entire product line. Speaking in Reykjavik, Iceland at the Driving Sustainability ’09 conference, Stephen Stacey, general manager, government and technical affairs, Toyota Motor Europe, talked about the next hybrid in line at Toyota, the…
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