Toyota to Launch Sai Hybrid Sedan

Toyota continues to launch green models and the next model in the production queue is the Sai hybrid sedan, a sibling to Lexus HS 250h, which is expected to go on sale on October 20 in Japan. The car will employ a more sportier engine compared to the Prius hatchback, according to a report by Autonews, and will represent the second model in Toyota's product range available only as a hybrid.

The Japanese manufacturer hasn't mentioned whether it plans to launch the Sai in the United States but American buyers already got the HS 250h which went on sale in the country in September.

Just as we said, the car will share the same platform and hybrid powertrain as the Lexus. It will be powered by a 2.4-liter gasoline engine that provides better performance than the 1.8-liter configuration available on the Prius. Nevertheless, the exterior and the interior will be different than the ones available on the Lexus, the aforementioned source noted quoting a Japanese dealer.

Toyota said in September that its hybrid sales are going impressively well, with no less than 2 million units sold in all markets around the world.

"Toyota calculates that since 1997, its hybrid vehicles have led to approximately 11 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance," the company said in a somewhat self-praising statement.

According to various media reports, Toyota is planning to launch no less than 10 different hybrids in the UK, with the Auris hybrid projected to enter production in the UK in mid 2010.