Toyota Sai to be unveiled as Japan’s new hybrid this month

By Matt Brogan | October 01st, 2009

The Toyota brand is getting its first dedicated hybrid sedan, a sister model to the Lexus HS 250h, that will sport a more powerful engine than the Prius hatchback.

The car, to be named the Toyota Sai, will go on sale in Japan from October 20. The Sai will be the second model marketed as a hybrid-only offering under the Toyota badge, after the Prius.

Toyota did not say whether the Sai will go on sale outside of Japan with very few addition details being made public.

A dealer in Japan said the car will share the same platform and hybrid drivetrain as the Lexus HS 250h (pictured above) which means a 2.4-litre petrol engine hybrid system, similar to Camry.

Toyota has not yet announced pricing.

Yanzo

looks too american
Lukaas

well sadly, America is 70% of the market for mass vehicle producers.

Although the european hybrids (Lexus) and some Toyotas, corolla etc has a touch of global styling on them.

And if you’ve lived in America, you’d definitely see that styling over there is distinct enough to easily notice.
Shane

again, its got that “safe” conservative look to it, like all Toyota’s. Add some style Toyota and you may sell more and start poaching sportier drivers. Could you imagine how many would sell if a similar motor was in a SV6 or XR6 body?
Neil

It may have taken me a while, but I’ve realised how stupid the HS’ name is – HS 250h, I mean, what’s going on with the double h?
G

That’s how you ruin a model’s image.
First you launch it as a premium model (with a Lexus brand) and then you convert it into a bread and butter Toyota.
Don’t see the original HS buyers very happy with that.
Anyway, Lexus buyers are like Toyota buyers, they don’t look around, they just see the other Toyotas surrounding them in their bubble. I feel sorry for them.
Mike

The HS 250h name refers to Harmonious sedan, so it’s not redundant. Depends on what this new model finally looks like, but it’s possible that it could be too close to the Lexus sedan. However it is an entry-level model, not one of their higher-end sedans which have no sibling.