TOYOTA CANADA TO OFFER ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY CAR
By Adnews Staff
Japan-based Toyota plans to bring its Prius sedan to the Canadian market in the year 2000. The Prius is built around the Toyota Hybrid System power train, which combines fuel efficiency, an environmentally friendly four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor powered by an onboard battery. The battery is charged by the gasoline engine as well as by regenerative braking when the vehicle slows down. The twin power units operate together or separately according to driving conditions to produce the best performance using minimum fuel and producing the least amount of emissions. Toyota in Canada hasn't decided yet which of its agencies will handle advertising for the Prius, PR manager David Stone told Adnews yesterday. Canadian advertising for Toyota is done by Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising and Dentsu Cadence, both of Toronto. Toyota launched the Prius in Japan last December. The car maker plans to launch the car in European markets and the U.S. in the year 2000 as well.