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Toyota Launches Completely Redesigned Estima Hybrid

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by ken1784, Jun 12, 2006.

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  1. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Hello all,,

    On June 12, 2006, Toyota Launches Completely Redesigned Estima Hybrid.
    http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/06/0612_2.html

    The previous Estima Hybrid was called THS-C and it was a parallel hybrid, but the new Estima Hybrid is based on the HSD(THS-II) technology.
    It is basically used the Camry Hybrid 2.4L power train in front and the RX400/Highlander AWD motor in rear.
    The band-new technology is added to the Estima Hybrid which is an exhaust heat recovery system.
    Please note that it is for the Japanese market only, I think.

    Enjoy,
    Ken@Japan
     
    #1 ken1784, Jun 12, 2006
  2. larkinmj

    larkinmj New Member

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    Cool! Two questions:
    1. Can we get Toyota to sell it here in the U.S. ?
    2. Can I talk my wife into trading her Pilot in for one? :)
     
    #2 larkinmj, Jun 12, 2006
  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    This news will definitely help feed the rumor that the next hybrid from Toyota for the United States will be a minivan. Hearing about their most popular vehicles getting the HSD option will freak out the competition. Sweet!
     
    #3 john1701a, Jun 12, 2006
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    oooh.. so the exhaust heat recovery system actually made it into production! I think it's pretty cool.. having radiant heat in the car lol.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Jun 12, 2006
  5. ServoScanMan

    ServoScanMan Member

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    Wow! If I did the math correctly it looks like the estimate is 46 miles per gallon. :)
    Honey....it's time to get rid of the Caravan....
     
    #5 ServoScanMan, Jun 12, 2006
  6. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ Jun 12 2006, 12:16 PM) [snapback]269948[/snapback]</div>
    Wow... this vehicle will do 20km/L?? Let's see if my math is good...

    20km/L = 5.0L/100km = 47MPG (US)! That would be significantly better(??) than the Camry Hybrid, which is rated at 5.7L/100km (41MPG) in Canada. I assume their testing method is quite different from the EPA...?

    Regardless, I think a Hybrid minivan will do very well, assuming it is built for efficiency rather than power (*cough* Accord *cough*) and is priced within reason, as the Camry seems to be. ;)

    Does Toyota also market the Sienna in Japan (and if so, how are they different?), or is the Estima the Japanese equivalent?

    - Kevin
     
    #6 Sarge, Jun 12, 2006
  7. etyler88

    etyler88 etyler88

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    Man that is awesome. Toyota is really on a roll. A 40+ mpg minivan and the 1.8 powertrain in the works. Wow. In a few year when it is common knowledge that these vehicles do not need timing belt or brake work (drastically reduced if not eliminated for the first 150k miles) it will be such a no brainer to buy these for long term owners.
     
    #7 etyler88, Jun 12, 2006
  8. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    What is that going to cost in american dollars?
     
    #8 burritos, Jun 12, 2006
  9. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

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    ..
     
    #9 naterprius, Jun 12, 2006
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    This will change everything:
    "I can't get a hybrid because I have children"
    "Hybrids are too small"
    etc.

    This is great news!
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Jun 12, 2006
  11. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jun 12 2006, 02:11 PM) [snapback]270024[/snapback]</div>
    According to the web page, it costs 4,570,000 Yen. Thats ~$40K in American dollars. In the future, see here.
     
    #11 Betelgeuse, Jun 12, 2006
  12. kinghuang

    kinghuang Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Jun 12 2006, 11:20 AM) [snapback]269989[/snapback]</div>
    Considering that the current Prius is rated at 33 km/L (78 mpg) in Japan but only 60 mpg in the United States, the Estima's 20 km/L probably wouldn't translate to a 47 mpg rating in the US. But, supposing a 78 mpg rating from Japan was equal to a 60 mpg rating in the US, then a 47 mpg from Japan would equal a 36 mpg rating in the US by proportional scaling.

    33 km/L (Japan) -> 36 mpg (US) -> 6.5 L/100km (Canada) ;)
     
    #12 kinghuang, Jun 12, 2006
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Jun 12 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]269989[/snapback]</div>
    Nah, it'll be the same as the Camry Hybrid. The Prius there gets 35km/L or abt 2.8L/100km whereas ours is rated at 4.0L/100km city. I'll expect the Estima Hybrid to be bumped up to the Camry Hybrid's level.

    The Estima was also known as the Previa here. The Estima/Previa lives on but apparently it was too high tech and spaceship looking so for 1998, we got our very own Sienna for the NA market.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Jun 12, 2006
  14. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 12 2006, 03:52 PM) [snapback]270085[/snapback]</div>
    OK... that makes more sense. Still, if it can even get close to the Camry, that would be impressive for a van! :)

    Ah yes, I remember the Previa. I always did think it was quite ugly, and "spaceship" seems like an accurate description of that thing! I much prefer the Sienna look. B)

    - Kevin
     
    #14 Sarge, Jun 12, 2006
  15. Angelus

    Angelus New Member

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    As a Previa owner, I resent that you called them ugly. I love my Previa and the "spaceship" look, much better than the boring "I wanna look like every other minivan in America" Sienna. And remember, to some people, your Prius is ugly, too.

    That said, I'd love to see an Estima in the U.S. as I need a van to haul DJ/band equipment and hate only getting 18-20 mpg.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Jun 12 2006, 02:32 PM) [snapback]270116[/snapback]</div>
     
    #15 Angelus, Jun 12, 2006
  16. M. Oiseau

    M. Oiseau 6sigma this

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    Looks like the price range is around $31,800-38,600. The highest price shown was for a wheelchair dependant driver version.

    I remember the Previa being dropped from the US market because of its abysmal front offset impact performance. Seems like overnight the name Previa became synonymous with the word deathtrap sometime in 1996.
     
    #16 M. Oiseau, Jun 12, 2006
  17. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    I like the Previa because it's notable for being the only Toyota that shares the Prius nose styling. It's a Prius people-carrier.
     
    #17 KMO, Jun 12, 2006
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Not only that, it was the only minivan with a mid-engine, rear wheel drive layout (MR) with optional All-Trac awd. However, it was quite pricey. I think by 1997, the price was around Cdn$40k (can't remember if that's the base model or the supercharged awd model). Either way, $40k is a lot in 1997 dollars. The new 1998 Sienna XLE was priced at $35k with leather, moonroof, cd changer and dual sliding doors.
     
    #18 Tideland Prius, Jun 12, 2006
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Exhaust Heat Recovery System is cool. I wonder if this system will replace the thermal bottle or complement it. I don't see any mention of the thermal bottle so it leads me to believe that EHRS will replace the bottle, at least in this Estima Hybrid.

    I wonder how well EHRS will work. MPG for the first 5 min would definately go up. Imagine next gen Prius getting 50 mpg for the first 5 min interval? :rolleyes: B)

    Dennis
     
    #19 usbseawolf2000, Jun 12, 2006
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    My mistake.. the exhaust recovery thingy is something else

    "An exhaust heat recovery system has been adopted to recover thermal energy from the exhaust and use it to heat engine coolant. This reduces engine warm-up time, which enables the engine to shut off earlier when idling, contributing to further improvements in actual fuel economy."
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Jun 12, 2006
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