Bucking the market trend, Toyota will be accelerating the production schedule of an SUV. Toyota announced today that production of the Highlander SUV will be moved up six months. "We need to get those people working. That’s the bottom line," said Steve St. Angelo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.
The Highlander makes the most sense out of all of Toyota’s SUVs because it is the one currently offering a hybrid version that can attract sales. Slow sales has already caused Toyota to halt production until November of the large Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV at the plants Princeton, Indiana, and San Antonio, Texas. The new plant in Tupelo, Mississippi, that was originally slated to make the Highlander will now make the Prius instead.
Unlike most of the U.S. auto companies, Toyota is giving a more optimistic view for the future at its U.S. plants that currently produce trucks. "I don’t anticipate us laying off any people," St. Angelo said. "Hopefully – and I can’t predict the future — the bad stuff is behind us, and we can stabilize, train and pick up again in a month or so."
If you have been following our video reviews, you know we have already featured the
Toyota Highlander. But this is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and it’s full of enough technology to make it worth its own review. This is Toyota’s second generation of both the Highlander model and the available hybrid engine. Along with the Prius and the Camry Hybrid, this makes up Toyota’s gas-electric group. The new Highlander Hybrid is powered by a 3.3-liter double overhead hybrid engine, which produces 209 horsepower. This advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive System has the fuel economy of up to 27 MPG city, and 25 MPG highway. It comes standard with four-wheel drive, equipped with intelligence drive. Just like the gasoline powered Highlander, the hybrid is available with the choice of a Base or Limited trim. The price for the 2008 Highlander Hybrid starts at $33,700.
Full story
The 2008 Toyota Highlander is a seven passenger "affordable" midsized SUV. It was first introduced in 2002, and quickly became Toyota’s best selling SUV, until the Rav4 outsold it in 2006. After seven years, the highlander was in need of makeover. The highlander just looks dated, particularly in the cabin, which was smaller than most current SUV models. In 2008, Toyota decided it was time for a change and introduced a completely redesigned Highlander. The new highlander is built on the same platform as the current Toyota Camry, and is now longer, wider and taller than its previous generation.
This new SUV is offered in several trim levels: base, Sport and Limited, each with front or all-wheel drive. The Hybrid models are base and limited, and both are offered only with all-wheel drive. So, you have plenty of trim options to choose from.
Full story
.
Toyota today announced the MSRP for the all-new Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV). The Highlander will be offered in Base, Sport and Limited grades.
Full story
Consumer Reports announced today that it has named five new models to its Top Picks list for 2007 — the
Toyota RAV4,
Infiniti G35,
Toyota Sienna,
Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the new Honda Fit. The Top Picks list is published in CR’s Annual April
Auto Issue.
The
Toyota Prius remains the Top Pick in the "green" car category for the fourth year in a row. The Prius demonstrated an excellent 44 mpg overall fuel economy, the best of Consumer Reports tests of any five-passenger vehicles.
> Full story
