Toyota Motor To Unveil HEV Minivan and SUV Prototype

Toyota Motor Corp. (Nagoya, Japan) has reportedly stepped up their plans to be a leader in the electric-hybrid arena by announcing they will be unveiling both a minivan and sports-utility prototype within the next eight months. Toyota plans to show the hybrid SUV at the Tokyo Motor show.

The minivan, which will be called the Estima, will be unveiled January 2000. The Estima will use either the 2.2 or 3.4 liter gasoline engine in conjunction with an electric drivetrain. It will have more power than Toyota's current hybrid EV, the "Prius" which uses a smaller 1.5 liter engine.