Simply Hybrid > Vehicles > Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV, available for rental from SimplyHybrid.com, was unveiled at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. It uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Toyota began offering the Highlander Hybrid to the public in July 2005 as a 2006 model.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is an automobile assembled by Toyota Motor Corp. using Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. It is called the Toyota Kluger Hybrid in Japan and Australia. Each generation surpasses the previous, offering greater power and less cost. The hybrid powertrain adds a mere 300 pounds to the vehicle’s curb weight. The majority of this extra weight is mounted low in the vehicle. To manage the additional weight, Toyota made the chassis of the Highlander Hybrid stronger. The Lexus RX, Lexus ES 350, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Highlander are all built on the same platform with slight modifications between the sedans and the SUV's.
The gasoline-powered part of the engine system is a 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6, very similar to the one found in the RX 330. It produces 268 HP when aided by the two additional electric motors. Under normal driving conditions, only the front motor and gasoline engine will be used. The rear motor will only be used under full-throttle acceleration or when the front wheels lose traction (if so equipped). The gasoline engine will switch off automatically when the vehicle is either stationary, decelerating, or being driven at a slow speed and the electric motor will take over. A Ni-MH battery is responsible for powering the motors, and it is charged during deceleration and from the heat energy caused from braking.
The assistance of the electric motor increases the vehicle's performance, the Highlander Hybrid can reach 60 mph (97km/h) in less than 8 seconds which is quicker than the normally aspirated Highlander. Despite the increased performance, the Highlander Hybrid consumes roughly the same amount of fuel as a compact four-cylinder sedan and it qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) in America.
