Το γεγονός ότι μέχρι τώρα, η Toyota δεν διέθετε υβριδική έκδοση του best-seller μοντέλου της, ήταν περίεργο. Όμως αυτό θα αλλάξει σχετικά σύντομα, αφού η Ιαπωνική εταιρία ανακοίνωσε επίσημα ότι τόσο η Corolla, όσο και το Levin –η πιο sport έκδοση της Corolla– θα αποκτήσουν plug-in υβριδικές εκδόσεις στην Κίνα, μέσα στα επόμενα δύο χρόνια.
Περαιτέρω πληροφορίες δεν αποκαλύφθηκαν από την Toyota και είναι λογικό, αφού το λανσάρισμα τους απέχει ακόμα αρκετό καιρό. Πάντως τα δύο αυτά μοντέλα, θα τοποθετηθούν δίπλα στα αντίστοιχα μη-plug in, υβριδικά που μέχρι στιγμής, έχουν καταφέρει να πουλήσουν 40.000 αυτοκίνητα από το ντεμπούτο τους το 2015.
Εκτός από αυτή την ανακοίνωση, η Toyota είπε ότι θα λανσάρει τον 1200άρη, υπερτροφοδοτούμενο βενζινοκινητήρα άμεσου ψεκασμού στην Κίνα –έναν κινητήρα που είναι διαθέσιμος εδώ και έναν περίπου χρόνο στην Ευρώπη και την Ιαπωνία ενώ η τριάδα των ανακοινώσεων, κλείνει με το λανσάρισμα του Toyota Safety Sense για την Κινέζικη αγορά.
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Toyota to Launch Two Plug-in Hybrid Models in China
Beijing, China, April 24, 2016―On the eve of the 2016 Beijing International Automobile Exhibition, Toyota announced that it will launch plug-in hybrid versions of the Corolla and Levin―two mass-market models―in China during 2018.
More than 10 years of hybrid production and R&D in China
In 2005, based on long-term plans to encourage the widespread use of environmentally-friendly vehicles in the country, Toyota selected China as the first location for production of its hybrid flagship, the Prius, outside of Japan.
Later, the establishment of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd. in 2010 created a hub for localized research and development of hybrid technologies. Following this major commitment, Toyota established two local manufacturers of hybrid powertrain components, Toyota Motor (Changshu) Auto Parts Co., Ltd. and Sinogy Toyota Automotive Energy System Co., Ltd., in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
These efforts culminated in last year’s launch of the Corolla Hybrid and Levin Hybrid―both of which feature locally developed hybrid units―in the Chinese market. Cumulative total orders for both vehicles now stand at approximately 40,000 units. To continue promoting the widespread use of alternative energy vehicles in the future, Toyota is also proceeding with localization of plug-in hybrid vehicle development ahead of the launch of plug-in versions of these two models in 2018.
Global sales of the Toyota Prius PHV began in January 2012, and by the end of March 2016, a cumulative total of 75,000 units had been sold in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, with the latest generation Prius PHV set to go on sale in these markets from this fall. With plug-in hybrids representing the new benchmark for environmentally-friendly vehicles in China, the mass-market Corolla and Levin plug-in hybrid models will be launched in 2018.
New turbo engine
Toyota also announced the introduction of a 1.2-liter direct-injection turbo engine with class-leading thermal efficiency in vehicles that are slated to go on sale in China later this year. The engine, first announced in April 2015, delivers superb driving performance and acceleration, while also achieving impressive fuel efficiency and world-leading thermal efficiency. At present, it is available in models sold in Europe and Japan.
Advanced safety technology
Following introduction in Europe, Japan and the U.S., the Toyota Safety Sense active safety package will be made available in vehicles sold in China later this year. In line with the gradual deployment of Toyota Safety Sense packages with specifications that match the local market environments, the system has been specifically adapted for Chinese roads.
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