Toyota Is Planning A Second Hybrid-Only Model

Toyota is working on a second hybrid-only model, in addition to the model already planned for the company's Lexus brand. The new Toyota hybrid will join the redesigned Prius, which is expected to be unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. According to reports in Nikkei, the new hybrid will be larger than the Prius, and will sport a 2.0L-2.5L engine. The company also plans to make a sister model for the Lexus lineup.

Toyota is planning to produce as many as 100,000 units annually when the new model achieves full production. Reportedly, the new model will be produced at the Fukuoka plant, which is tooled to build the Lexus RX and the Toyota Harrier Hybrid. Toyota also produces the Highlander at the Fukuoka plant, but is reportedly scaling back on production of its larger models in response to sagging demand.

Last week, Toyota announced that it would build the Prius at a plant in Mississippi that had originally been tasked with building Highlanders and Sequoias for the US market. The company will instead shift truck production to existing truck plants in Princeton, IN and San Antonio, TX and at the same time reduce overall truck production by one-third.

Toyota had been in talks with GM regarding the use of the Fremont plant in California for Prius production. The company has not indicated whether those talks are still on, but it would not be the first time that Toyota has partnered with the General on vehicle production. GM and Toyota developed the NUMMI production joint venture in the early 1980's that influenced the Pontiac Vibe, and the Toyota Tacoma, Corolla, and Tundra models.

Source: Motor Authority