Toyota's 3rd-Generation Hybrid Drive Train On Schedule For 2008

Toyota Motor Corp. in 2008 will put into practical use its third-generation hybrid-system (HS) engine, which will cut prices for eco-friendly vehicles, reduce fuel costs and slash production expenses, company sources said.

The smaller, third-generation HS can be installed on many models. Most of the automaker's midsize and larger models will be equipped with the new engine, they said.

Toyota plans to manufacture key parts of the new HS in the United States to expand the use of the technology around the world, they added.

Toyota's HS combines gasoline power and an electric motor. The system requires less fossil fuel and is thus more environmentally friendly than vehicles that run only on gas.

EDIT

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200511160186.html

Kill yourselves now and spare yourselves the humiliation. The Japanese auto makers are making you all their bitch and your loving it. May as well put yourselves out of your misery now so the earlier we can get to work on employing those you all left unemployed. You shall reap what you sow.

Sincerly,

Freethought

GM keeps yapping how they're perfecting their '2 mode' system before unleashing it on the marketplace. Supposed to increase large SUV mileage by 20% or something crappy. I've yet to see a good definition of what '2 mode' means.

...Is it's now a 4-way power split (mg1, mg2, ice, road) with the drivetrain geared for more power from a smaller/cheaper/lighter mg1 that has a higher rpm rating.

keep in mind that the Gen-1 to Gen-2
'improvement' {not the term I would use}
was a reduction in electrical energy storage,
of course, it was advertised as 'weight reduction'.

if this is so great, why don't they sell some
in countries with high gas tax,
like Germany or the UK?,
why do they push the concept in a country {the U.S.}
that would appear to be the least receptive?...

the only reason I can think of is,
for a 22K cost, plus tax, duty, tax on the duty, VAT,
plus tax, total, 50K,
Europeans don't want a car with a 1.5L engine
and rear drum brakes.

For those that actually read it before commenting on its contents.

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200511170150.html