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Toyota Introduces Full Hybrid Version of Crown
18 February 2008
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| The Crown Hybrid. |
Toyota Motor has redesigned its Crown luxury sedan lineup in Japan, and added a full-hybrid model based on a THS (Toyota Hybrid System) II system. Toyota had shown a THS II-based concept version of the Crown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. (Earlier post.) Toyota had introduced a mild-hybrid version of the Crown in 2001.
The new Crown hybrid combines a rear-wheel drive THS II hybrid system with a 2GR-FSE D4-S 3.5-liter V6 engine (also used in the Lexus IS and GS 350) and a NiMH battery pack. The hybrid goes on sale in Japan on 6 May.
The D4-S combines port and direct injection, with two injectors per cylinder—one injector installed in the combustion chamber and a second mounted in the intake port. The combination of direct injection with port injection enables a more precise mixing of air and fuel under low- and medium-load conditions. Under high-load, the engine will use direct injection alone. The engine as applied in the Crown Hybrid is rated at 218 kW (292 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 368 Nm (271 lb-ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm.
The Crown’s THS II system features a two-stage motor speed reduction device, also used in the motors of the GS 450h and LS 600h, to generate maximum low-gear torque for significantly enhanced acceleration, as well as extended high-gear performance for high speed cruising with improved fuel efficiency. The 147 kW electric motor delivers 275 Nm (203 lb-ft) of maximum torque.
Toyota says that the Crown Hybrid has the driving performance of a 4.5-liter vehicle with the low fuel consumption of a 2.0-liter vehicle.
The Crown Hybrid achieves a fuel efficiency of 14.0 km/l (33 mpg US or 7.1 L/100km) according to the newly introduced JC08 test cycle outlined by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT). It is among the first vehicles to meet the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards. The vehicle also achieves the equivalent of 166 g/km of CO2 emissions.
Under the traditional 10-15 test cycle, the fuel efficiency is 15.8 km/l (37 mpg US, 6.3 L/100km), surpassing the existing 2010 fuel efficiency standards by 20%, with CO2 emissions of 147 g/km.)
An electric vehicle (EV) driving mode permits the driver, by pressing a button, to operate the vehicle using the electric motor only. An Active Noise Control function uses the speakers to cancel out low-frequency engine noise) to provide an even quieter ride.
The Crown Hybrid is priced at ¥6,190,000 (US$57,239).
February 18, 2008 in Hybrids | Permalink | Comments (30) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: Herm | February 19, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Hey Herm,
Isn't it a Miller-Atkinson cycle, not Rankine?
Posted by: Roy | February 20, 2008 at 05:23 AM
I agree - herm just fumbled the ball that's all.
Although the term "Prius Rankine cycle" is perfectly valid here. Mostly refers to sullenly getting steamed up about Toyota.
Posted by: T2 | February 28, 2008 at 05:43 PM
The Japanese milege tests are very artificial. They make the US CAFE milege test look exttraordinary reasonable. We know th reality of that.
This mileage is not all that significant. Did you know that the US auto fleet sold last year beat the foreign imported auto fleet in CAFE Mileage? It did
It averaged in excess of 30 mpg (!) for the domestic (including foreign manufactured autos in NA) and surpassed the NA imports by over 1 mpg. Do any of you really think the average vehicle in the US REALLY averaged 30 mpg?
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/excel/table_04_23.xls
Similarly these Japanese figures are even more full of... fluff.
Posted by: Stan Peterson | March 01, 2008 at 10:40 AM
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Posted by: maquest | October 06, 2008 at 08:04 PM
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lets not be so negative, every little helps including this luxury car.
I was thinking that Toyota has really a big advantage already, they have front wheel drive hybrid powerplant already proven in the Prius.. it would not take much to use it in a larger family sedan (Taurus sized), this more expensive class of car would easily justify the added hybrid cost.
Leave the efficient Prius Rankine cycle 4 cyl engine in (do not increase the size), upgrade the motors as needed, perhaps a bigger battery as needed. I bet I could coax 50mpg out of such a family sedan.