Toyota to sell hybrid version of Lexus RX SUV in US this year

AFX News Limited

January 6, 2004

DETROIT, Michigan (AFX) - Toyota Motor Corp is offering its hybrid-electric vehicles to upscale buyers with its first luxury sport-utility due for sale later this year.

The company unveiled a hybrid version of its Lexus RX series luxury sport-utility vehicle Tuesday at the Detroit auto show.

The Japanese automaker will call the car the RX 400h to differentiate it from the traditional RX 330, which Toyota has been selling in the United States since 1999.

It is yet to put an on-sale date on its forthcoming hybrid off-roader.

Toyota claims it will be "the world's first luxury hybrid SUV."

As of Tuesday, it is also the only hybrid luxury SUV planned for the US market by any automaker.

The company plans to add at least two more hybrid to its lineup, in addition to the RX 400h, in the near future, according to Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president.

It is considering either building a hybrid version of its best-selling Camry sedan or second-generation Tundra full-size pickup, due in 2005.

"A heavy vehicle makes more sense (as a hybrid) because they create the most emissions and have the most egregious effect on the environment," Press said.

He called the car a hybrid "breakthrough" because "it adds a new performance dimension to the traditional hybrid advantages of high mileage and low emissions."

Actual fuel economy numbers were not given, but the company expects the vehicle to travel more than 960 kilometers on each full tank of gasoline.

Press said Toyota will charge an unspecified premium for the hybrid SUV over the RX 330's 37,000 usd price tag.

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