Toyota Aus confirms three new hybrids by 2020

Toyota Australia's divisional manager sales, Sean Hanley has confirmed three new hybrid models will be added to the brand's local line-up by 2020.

Speaking to CarsGuide at this year's Tokyo motor show, Hanley said Toyota's 20-year commitment to hybrid technology (the first-generation Prius launched in 1997) puts it in a good position to react to a changing regulatory environment and evolving consumer demands.

The hybrid Kluger is already on sale in the USA as the Highlander hybrid.

Toyota already has five petrol-electric hybrid models on sale in Australia – Prius, Prius C, Prius V, Corolla Hybrid and Camry Hybrid.

The 1.8-litre hybrid variant of the C-HR has been marked as a possibility for this market.

Although Hanley wouldn't confirm which new models would be added to the hybrid range there are four models available in Japan and other markets that stand as likely candidates.

From its Australian launch early in 2017, the 1.8-litre hybrid variant of the C-HR has been marked as a possibility for this market, but its relatively modest 89kW/144Nm doesn't compare well with the current 1.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo's 85kW/184Nm.

Other relevant hybrid options include the Yaris (Vitz hybrid in Japan), RAV4 and Kluger, the latter already on sale in the USA (where Australian Klugers are produced) as the Highlander hybrid.

The RAV4 is another relevant hybrid option.

Toyota's worldwide hybrid production total surpassed 10 million units in February this year, and Hanley says Toyota Australia will have to change its hybrid model mix over the next five to seven years.

Currently sitting at just five per cent of all new Toyota's sold in Australia, Hanley says, "We'll need to take that up significantly into the future, regardless of regulation."

He also touched on Toyota's focus on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) development, but ruled out the large-scale commercial introduction of the Mirai FCV, or Prius Prime plug-in hybrid in the near term, due to infrastructure restrictions.

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