Can increasingly electrified and autonomous vehicles still be fun to drive? Toyota thinks so!
In a world where vehicles are quickly becoming more electrified and automated, can they still be fun to drive? At Toyota, we think so. In fact, we’re banking on it.
This is a time of great change in the auto industry. Technology is completely transforming everything we do with advancements in vehicle automation, the always-connected car, mobility as a service, the reinvention of the drivetrain, and more.
At Toyota, developing new technologies is a fundamental component of our DNA — whether it’s the technologies we’re adding to our vehicles today, or those that are paving the way for the mobility solutions of the future.
One of our goals at Toyota is to all but eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and we’ve been a leader in this space for over two decades, developing and introducing technologies for the electrification of the powertrain.
Since we introduced drivers to the first Toyota Prius 20 years ago, we’ve sold more than 11 million hybrid vehicles in 90 countries. Today, we offer consumers more electrified choices than any other automaker.
By taking what we’ve learned from our experience with hybrids, we’re well positioned to lead the way with the next generation of advanced technology vehicles.
With the rollout of the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and the launch of the Toyota Mirai sedan, the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle, we will continue to learn and improve future electrified models. This includes pure battery electric vehicles, as we work toward offering consumers an electrified option in every segment by 2025.
As with advanced powertrains, Toyota is leading the industry in advanced vehicle safety technology. We introduced Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) in the 2017 model year and, today, more than 95 per cent of all new vehicles we sell in Cana- da are standard equipped with this bundle of active safety technologies. Now, TSS 2.0 is being introduced on 2019 model year vehicles to help make our roads safer for everyone.
But our advanced powertrains and safety technologies only make a difference if people embrace our vehicles, and we are committed to giving Canadian drivers vehicles they want to drive. This means a diverse lineup of vehicles that are not only fuel-efficient and safe, but also fun to drive. That’s why, personally, I’m excited about two new models coming this year.
The first is the all-new 2019 Corolla Hatchback. Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, this sporty hatch takes full advantage of Toyota’s latest performance, handling, connectivity and safety technologies. It’s available with an all-new Direct Shift Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with 10-speed Sequential Shiftmatic steps featuring a number of innovative elements, including the world’s first launch gear in a passenger vehicle CVT. We’re also offering the Corolla Hatchback with a manual transmission — something many other manufacturers are phasing out. We know some drivers love the direct engagement of a stick, and the Corolla Hatchback’s combination of bold styling and agile handling really delivers for them.
Looking ahead, we will continue to keep driving fun with future Toyota and Lexus models. The all-new 2019 Toyota RAV4, for example, is lower and wider than the previous generation, with a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks. Its new chassis is 57 per cent more rigid to help deliver an exciting driving experience, including genuine off-roading capabilities. And, perhaps most exciting for 2019, we are introducing the first-ever RAV4 Hybrid XSE — a super-sporty hybrid that features a specially-tuned suspension and enhanced horsepower and acceleration. For the first time, the hybrid version of the RAV4 will be the quickest and best handling RAV4 in the lineup. The new RAV4 XSE hybrid makes it clear that, with Toyota, hybrid and safe can still be fun.
Toyota’s history of turning technology into opportunity — evident in vehicles like the Toyota Prius Prime and Toyota Mirai, as well as the 2019 RAV4 and Corolla Hatchback — is why we’re very much looking forward to what the future brings, and to sharing it with Canadians who love to drive.