Toyota to introduce new hybrid car named “Aqua”

By year end, Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to introduce its new compact hybrid named “Aqua,” which features a superior fuel-economy engine. The hybrid will be priced at around 1.7 million yen (US$22,336), which is 300,000 (US$3,941) yen lower than the popular Prius hybrid. Aqua will be a bit smaller than Prius, and will have for its power source a 1.5 liter gasoline engine, battery and electric motor. It will be able to run 40 kilometers on a liter of gasoline. Kanto Auto Works Ltd. will produce the Aqua in the town of Kanegasaki, Iwate Prefecture. The firm is part of the Toyota Group and its plant is located in the region of Tohoku, which was damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (September 28, 2011)