Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has unveiled new compact hybrid sedan, Sai, in Japan, which is planned to go on sale in Japan on December 7, 2009. The Sai, designed with extensive consideration for the environment, features a gasoline-electric hybrid system with a 2.4-liter engine for fuel efficiency and use of ecological plastic (made from plant-derived materials) for about 60% of the interior surface area.
The new sedan’s efficient package achieves a balance between maneuverability, comfort, refined sedan styling and aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, in addition to offering features for high-level safety performance, such as a millimeter-wave-radar Pre-crash Safety system, the Sai, among its other attributes, provides cruising performance and riding comfort befitting a luxury vehicle, altogether making it a compact luxury vehicle for a new era that brings together talent and coloration to enrich customers’ lifestyles.
Monthly sales target for Japan: 3,000 units
Assembly Plant: Miyata Plant, Toyota Motor Kyushu, Inc.
Vehicle Outline:
Fuel efficiency and environmental performance:
The Sai features the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) II combining a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle combustion engine with an electric motor and a reduction gear. By delaying intake valve closure, the engine achieves a high expansion ratio at low pressure, thus raising heat efficiency.
Possessing dynamic performance with power to spare, vehicle realizes fuel efficiency of 23.0km/l, on par with 660cc minivehicles, under 10-15 test cycle of Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT); under MLIT’s JC08 test cycle, vehicle has fuel efficiency of 19.8km/l Vehicle meets new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards set out under Law Concerning Rational Use of Energy, and CO2 emissions are 75% lower than 2005 standards under MLIT approval system for low-emission vehicles, which is currently strictest standard in Japan for emissions; thus, vehicle qualifies for Japanese government tax reductions and subsidies for environmentally friendly vehicles.
The transaxle is exceptionally small and light, with a compact high-speed motor that achieves increased output and a reduction gear that increases torque.
An exhaust heat recovery system uses exhaust gas to heat the engine, thus shortening engine-warming time and contributing to greatly improved fuel efficiency, especially when outside temperatures are low.
LED headlights conserve electric power and consequently reduce power-generation requirements on the engine.
In addition to Standard Driving Mode, which balances fuel efficiency and power, drivers can also select Eco-Drive Mode, which prioritizes fuel efficiency by moderating driving force relative to accelerator operation and putting the air conditioner into a low energy-consumption mode, and Electric Vehicle (EV) Drive Mode, which uses the electric motor only, resulting in extremely quite cruising and zero emissions.
Support for environmentally considerate driving:
A Hybrid System Indicator that shows real-time driving status and an Eco Driving Indicator that lights up to signify fuel-efficient vehicle operation provide visual support to the driver.
The ESPO system, which encourages and rewards environmentally considerate driving, enables drivers to gain extra enjoyment.
G-BOOK mX, Toyota’s advanced telematics service, assesses environmentally considerate driving and awards points to driver; mastery of eco-driving can be determined according to rate of points gained each month.
Programs that allow drivers to make donations to charities using points received, that rank fuel efficiency of nationwide Sai ESPO users, and other fun incentives to encourage drivers to drive in environmentally considerate ways, are available.
Environmental impact reduction:
To limit CO2 emissions through achieving carbon neutrality and to minimize use of Earth’s limited fossil fuels, plant-based Ecological Plastic has been used for about 60% of the interior surface area, by far the use of such plastic by Toyota in any vehicle to date.
Ecological Plastic used for first time in ceiling and pillar garnishes and sun visor surfaces in mass-production vehicle; plastic also adopted in injection-molded parts such as scuff plates and luggage trays, as well as for luggage-space trim surfaces and foam in seat cushions.
Required heat resistance, shock resistance and mass production capabilities have been ensured by employing advanced compounding technologies to combine plastic’s plant-derived and petroleum-derived raw materials.
Logo and surface patterns indicate parts made of Ecological Plastic:
Recycled materials are also used in parts such as undercover to further reduce environmental impact.
Toyota employed its Eco-Vehicle Assessment System (Eco-VAS), its in-house-developed system to comprehensively assess environmental impact—in designing the Sai.
Eco-VAS includes setting targets at start of vehicle development to help reduce environmentally harmful factors by such means as balanced reduction of CO2 emissions.
Life-cycle assessment carried out to reduce CO2 and air contaminants throughout vehicle’s lifecycle.
Review of materials, processing methods and adhesives used for interior parts resulted in a reduction of volatile organic compounds and sometimes-unpleasant interior odors to levels compliant with voluntary industry standards.
High-efficiency package limits length while increasing interior space:
The Sai adopts a high-efficiency package that balances superb maneuverability and comfort with attractive, refined sedan styling and aerodynamic performance.
Body size offers excellent maneuverability and minimum turning radius of 5.2 meters (when fitted with 16-inch wheels).
Slightly elevated hip point enhances forward visibility and positioning of door openings and seat height optimized to ease ingress and egress.
Telescopic, tilt-function steering wheel and eight-way adjustable power seat enable driver to easily set optimal driving position.
Slimmer front seatbacks allow more legroom at knee height for increased rear comfort and ease of ingress and egress.
Optimal positioning of hybrid-system battery secures enough luggage space to accommodate four golf bags.
Enhanced safety equipment:
Advanced technologies including a Pre-crash Safety System (featuring millimeter-wave radar) to counter both front and rear collisions as well as seven Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags, standard on all models, and optional rear seat SRS side airbags pursue safety performance at the highest levels.
Preventive safety performance and driving support:
Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control (S-VSC) system, standard on all models, optimally balances driving power, steering and braking to achieve stable driving regardless of road conditions.
Pre-crash Safety system (millimeter-wave radar type) detects risk of collision and warns driver with buzzer and display; depending on probability of collision, system also initiates Pre-Crash Brake Assist system, Pre-Crash Brakes, and Pre-crash Seatbelts to minimize collision damage.
If Pre-crash Safety system determines risk of collision from vehicle approaching from behind, hazard lights flash to warn driver; if collision is highly probable, system shifts front-seat headrests to optimum position to brace occupants for impact and to lessen risk of injuries.
Brake-signal system, standard on all models, flashes brake lights in event of sudden braking to warn driver of the vehicle behind.
On highways and freeways, Lane-keeping Assist alerts driver of lane divergence and assists with corrective steering.
Radar cruise control (with brake control) maintains appropriate distance from vehicle immediately in front within set speed.
Wide-view front monitor simultaneously displays ground in front of vehicle as well as left and right frontal areas
Collision safety:
Vehicle features advanced Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) collision-safety body that incorporates omni-directional compatibility to achieve exceptional collision safety performance in frontal, side or rear collisions.
Body designed to reduce pedestria