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Monday, October 19, 2009
Toyota SAI Hybrid Sedan: Prius' Big Brother Revealed in JDM Brochure Shots
Posted by wedos at 2:47 PM
Long-time Carscoop reader Marcus has sent us these revealing JDM brochure scans of the new Toyota SAI hybrid sedan that is due to make its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this week. Toyota's second dedicated hybrid model after the Prius is in essence a reshaped version of the Lexus HS 250h that was revealed at the 2009 Detroit Show in January and is already on sale in the U.S. and Japan.
The photos, some of which depict the Sai with original Toyota accessories from TRD and Modellista, show that the Prius' big brother gets a different nose treatment with unique headlight, grille, hood and bumper designs along with different tail lamps at the back.
The different shape of the rear side windows on the C-pillar of the car and the newly designed alloy wheels pretty much complete the list with the exterior styling changes over the Lexus HS 250h.
Inside, the Sai gets its own unique dashboard and instrument panel along with a new steering wheel similar in design to the one found on the latest generation Prius.
We don't have any official details yet, but it is believed that the Sai will use the same hybrid system as the Lexus HS 250h, combining a 2.4-liter Atkinson-cycle VVTi four-cylinder petrol engine with a nickel-metal-hydride 30kW (40hp) electric drive for a total output of 187 horsepower.
It is not known if Toyota will sell the Sai hybrid in other markets outside Japan.
That's about all we have on Toyota's new hybrid sedan for now, but we expect more details and official photos to be released shortly.
2010 TOYOTA SAI HYBRID
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2010 LEXUS HS 250h
