Toyota Motor Corp. (Japan) unveiled its 2005 Highlander Hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV), which follows the second-generation Prius sedan as the company's second vehicle featuring its hybrid system technology. With double the power of the Prius and fuel efficiency that is better than today's average compact sedan, Toyota said it was confident the Highlander hybrid would do well with mainstream American consumers when it debuts a year later.
The Highlander will feature two versions of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive®: a front-wheel drive model and a four-wheel drive with intelligence (4WD-i) model. The four-wheel drive Highlander's Hybrid Synergy Drive® combines the power of a 3.3L, 24-valve, V6 gas engine with the efficiency of two high-torque electric motors for an estimated 270HP. The Highlander has a good fuel economy with a cruising range of over 600 miles on a single tank of gas. It can travel from 0mph to 60mph in less than eight seconds.
