Detroit 2008: Toyota gets greener with new diesels, hybrids and PHEV test fleet

Detroit 2008: Toyota gets greener with new diesels, hybrids and PHEV test fleet

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Toyota
Toyota's turning up the heat on its already-boiling environmental image by putting more effort into sustainable programs. At a reception held for the media tonight after the first press day of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe declared the automaker's continuing green push. Among the most imminent of the many initiatives mentioned, a new clean diesel V8 will be coming soon for the Tundra and Sequoia. Many have been clamoring for such a power source for those vehicles, though Toyota did not commit to an on-sale date. Toyota's also putting more effort into plug-in hybrids and will be expanding its PHEV test fleet.

Those aforementioned plug-ins will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries, and Toyota has begun planning with partner Panasonic to expand its battery operations to include an automotive li-ion production line. Throwing down the gauntlet, Watanabe closed the event by enticing the media to return to Detroit next year, where two new hybrids will be unveiled. The two new hybrid models, one for Lexus and one for Toyota, are part of the Japanese automaker's goal of selling one million hybrids per year within the next ten years. It's starting to look like the Green Arena is where the next smackdown is headed now that the unbridled horsepower race has been choked off by the ever-looming new CAFE regs.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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finally a diesel for the tundra. sounds promising and could be the final blow towards american manufacturers if it proves to be reliable.

I'd heard through a fairly reliable source back at debut time that if Tundra sales went well(i.e. top 200,000), a Caterpillar diesel would be under the hood. The word was they'd be choosing them to appeal to the average blue-collar joe, instead of using a Hino-built powerplant. I don't know where all this stands now, especially with the new Toyota D-CAT stuff, but I'm not going to count seeing a Caterpillar in a Tundra out just yet.

IIRC, the only passenger type truck you can get a Caterpillar in now is an F-series, 450 and above.

They should be reliable. I have no doubt that they will be, but I don't think it would detract from American truck sales. They have their own customer support too.

this would make sense with caterpillar and toyota being a partner in nascar. doesn't toyota use the hino powerplant in japan?

yes HINO is the only powerplant being used over here and they do very well and are suprisingly quite for thier size. they do have thier smaller 1.9 and 2.0 diesels built by Yamaha but they are very noisy, but excellent economy.

I saw the Nascar vehicle after the "Prove It" testing they did with the Tundra here. I heard about the Cat thing before the truck was released though, lol. I didn't really put much into it, even though the person who'd said it usually comes with good information....until I saw that yellow Cat Camry.

I think the Hino bobtrucks they sell over here are their own diesel too. Seems like every moving company and in-town delivery company has started picking up Hinos over the Freightliners of past.

The only thing that I can think of that might throw a wrench into the Cat plans could be the jacked up economy. A diesel option can add 6-8k to the cost of a 2500/3500 series truck.