Toyota Sai

Last updated

Toyota Sai
2009 Toyota SAI 01.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Toyota
Model code AZK10
Production2009–2017 [1]
AssemblyJapan: Miyawaka, Fukuoka (Toyota Motor Kyushu) [1]
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size car
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform Toyota New MC platform
Related
Powertrain
Engine 2.4 L 2AZ-FXE petrol hybrid I4
Electric motor 2JM AC synchronous
Power output
  • 110 kW (148 hp; 150 PS) (petrol engine)
  • 140 kW (188 hp; 190 PS) (combined system output)
Transmission eCVT
Battery Nickel metal hydride
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length4,695 mm (184.8 in)
Width1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height1,485 mm (58.5 in)
Curb weight 1,570–1,590 kg (3,461–3,505 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Toyota Brevis/Progrès
Successor Lexus ES 300h (AXZH10)

The Toyota Sai is a hybrid electric car sharing the same platform and hybrid drivetrain as the Lexus HS. It was launched in Japan on October 20, 2009, [2] following the launch of the Lexus HS in January of the same year. [3] Toyota received about 14,000 orders in one month after its introduction, and the Sai is available at all Toyota Japanese dealership sales channels. [4]

Contents

The Sai was released in December 2009 as Toyota's second hybrid-only line after the Prius as Toyota brand model. Positioned between the Prius and the Crown Hybrid, the Sai came in a semi-fastback 4-door sedan body with a trunk. It was a sister car of the Lexus HS 250h that was released earlier in July, and the two models shared the basic components although they were differentiated by their interior and exterior designs. The Sai's body length, width, and height were smaller than those of the Lexus HS 250h by 95 mm, 15 mm, and 10 mm, respectively.

The highly aerodynamic body design extended even to the flat and smooth underfloor covers, attaining a drag coefficient of 0.27 which was among the best in its class. Although the Sai employed the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) II with a reduction gear mechanism (the same as that of the Prius), its engine was a more powerful 2.4-liter unit (2AZ-FXE) producing 150 PS, to which a 143 PS motor was combined to drive the front wheels. The fuel consumption was 23.0 km/L under the 10-15 test cycle.

The name comes from the Japanese word "sai" -which means "talent" and "coloration" when written with the Kanji character. [5]

On June 25, 2010, Lexus (Toyota) recalled 17,801 2010 model year HS250h and Sai models for failing to comply with US FMVSS 301, "Fuel System Integrity", due to the risk of excessive fuel leakage in the event of a rear-end collision. A recall for reprogramming the brake software was issued in February 2010.

On November 15, 2017, the Sai was discontinued and replaced by the Lexus ES 300h, which was released in Japan on October 24, 2018.[ citation needed ]

Pre-facelift
2013 facelift

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Avalon</span> Full-size car produced by Toyota

The Toyota Avalon is a full-size sedan produced by Toyota. It is Toyota's largest front-wheel drive sedan and serves as its flagship sedan in the United States, Canada, China and the Middle East. It was also produced in Australia from April 2000 until June 2005, when it was replaced in November 2006 by the Aurion. The first production Avalon rolled off the TMMK assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky, in September 1994, and subsequent generations have all been manufactured at the Kentucky location to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus GS</span> Motor vehicle

The Lexus GS is an executive car sold by Lexus, the premium division of Toyota. The same car had been launched in 1991 as the Toyota Aristo in Japan. For non-Japanese markets, it was released as the Lexus GS in February 1993. It continued using the Toyota Aristo name for the Japanese market until January 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Camry</span> Japanese mid-size car

The Toyota Camry is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Camry has grown since the 1990s to fit the mid-size classification (wide-body)—although the two widths co-existed in that decade. Since the release of the wide-bodied versions, Camry has been extolled by Toyota as the firm's second "world car" after the Corolla. As of 2022, the Camry is positioned above the Corolla and below the Avalon or Crown in several markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus IS</span> Motor vehicle

The Lexus IS is a compact executive car sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Vitz</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Vitz is a subcompact car produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota from 1999 to 2019 in a three- or five-door hatchback body styles. The "Vitz" nameplate was used consistently in Japan, while most international markets received the same vehicle as the Toyota Yaris, or as the Toyota Echo in some markets for the first generation. The Vitz was available in Japan from Toyota's Netz Store dealerships. Toyota began production in Japan and later assembled the vehicle in other Asian countries and in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus LS</span> Motor vehicle

The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan serving as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. For the first four generations, all LS models featured V8 engines and were predominantly rear-wheel-drive. In the fourth generation, Lexus offered all-wheel-drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants. The fifth generation changed to using a V6 engine with no V8 option, and only one length was offered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Century</span> Full-size luxury car

The Toyota Century is a lineup of full-size luxury cars and limousines produced mainly for the Japanese market, serving as Toyota's flagship car within Japan; globally the unrelated Lexus LS series is Toyota's flagship luxury model. Production of the Century began in 1967, and the model received only minor changes until redesigns in 1997 and 2018.

Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), also known as Toyota Hybrid System II, is the brand name of Toyota Motor Corporation for the hybrid car drive train technology used in vehicles with the Toyota and Lexus marques. First introduced on the Prius, the technology is an option on several other Toyota and Lexus vehicles and has been adapted for the electric drive system of the hydrogen-powered Mirai, and for a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius. Previously, Toyota also licensed its HSD technology to Nissan for use in its Nissan Altima Hybrid. Its parts supplier Aisin offers similar hybrid transmissions to other car companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus ES</span> Motor vehicle

The Lexus ES is a series of mid-size executive cars marketed since 1989 by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, across multiple generations, each offering V6 engines and a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The first five generations of the ES used the Toyota Camry platform, while the latter generations are more closely related to both the Camry and the Avalon. Manual transmissions were offered until 1993, a lower-displacement inline-four engine became an option in Asian markets in 2010, and a gasoline-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2012. The ES was Lexus' only front-wheel drive vehicle until 1998, when the related RX was introduced, and the sedan occupied the entry-level luxury car segment of the Lexus lineup in North America and other regions until the debut of the IS in 1999. The ES name stands for "Executive Sedan". However, some Lexus importers use the name, "Elegant Sedan".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Mark II</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Mark II is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cressida between 1976 and 1992 across four generations. Toyota replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida in North America with the front-wheel-drive Avalon. Every Mark II and Cressida was manufactured at the Motomachi plant at Toyota, Aichi, Japan from September 1968 to October 1993, and later at Toyota Motor Kyushu's Miyata plant from December 1992 to October 2000, with some models also assembled in Jakarta, Indonesia as the Cressida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Tercel</span> Japanese subcompact car

The Toyota Tercel is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1978 until 1999 across five generations, in five body configurations sized between the Corolla and the Starlet. Manufactured at the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Japan, and sharing its platform with the Cynos and the Starlet, the Tercel was marketed variously as the Toyota Corolla II — sold at Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyota Corolla Stores — and was replaced by the Platz in 1999. It was also known as the Toyota Corsa and sold at Toyopet Store locations. Starting with the second generation, the Tercel dealership network was changed to Vista Store, as its badge engineered sibling, the Corolla II, was exclusive to Corolla Store locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Crown</span> Mid-size luxury car

The Toyota Crown is an automobile which has been produced by Toyota in Japan since 1955. It is primarily a line of mid-size luxury cars that is marketed as an upmarket offering in the Toyota lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Alphard</span> Minivan

The Toyota Alphard; /alfærd/) is a minivan produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven or eight-seater with petrol and hybrid engine options. Hybrid variants have been available since 2003, which incorporates Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. It is Toyota's flagship minivan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Crown Majesta</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Crown Majesta is a full-size luxury sedan from Toyota. It is an upmarket variant of the Crown and serves as Toyota's flagship model in various countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus HS</span> Hybrid luxury sedan

The Lexus HS is a dedicated hybrid vehicle introduced by Lexus as a new compact executive car sedan in 2009. Built on the Toyota New MC platform, it is classified as a compact under Japanese regulations concerning vehicle exterior dimensions and engine displacement. Unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2009, the HS 250h went on sale in July 2009 in Japan, followed by the United States in August 2009 as a 2010 model. The HS 250h represented the first dedicated hybrid vehicle in the Lexus lineup, as well as the first offered with an inline-four gasoline engine. Bioplastic materials are used for the vehicle interior. With a total length of 4,700 mm (190 in), the Lexus HS is slightly larger than the Lexus IS, but still smaller than the mid-size Lexus ES.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus CT</span> Motor vehicle

The Lexus CT is a hybrid electric automobile sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, as a premium compact hatchback. The CT, consisting of a single model called the CT 200h, is a luxury hybrid based on the Toyota Prius drivetrain and Toyota MC platform chassis, and is the first luxury compact and hatchback hybrid. It is the first production model in Lexus's family to introduce the "Spindle Grille" design as seen in its fascia. It made its debut at the March 2010 Geneva International Motor Show, six months after the unveiling of the LF-Ch concept car; it is primarily targeted at the European market but is being sold worldwide and was introduced to North American markets at the April 2010 New York International Auto Show. Lexus has trademarked the names CT 200h, CT 300h, and CT 400h. The design by Takeshi Tanabe was approved in 2008 and patented on 11 September 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus RX</span> Luxury crossover SUV model from Lexus

The Lexus RX is a luxury crossover SUV sold since 1998 by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. Originally released in its home market of Japan in late 1997 as the Toyota Harrier, export sales began in March 1998 as the Lexus RX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Prius C</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Prius c (c stands for "city"), also known as the Toyota Aqua (Japanese: トヨタ・アクア, Hepburn: Toyota Akua); "aqua" is Latin for water) in Japan, is a full hybrid gasoline-electric subcompact/supermini hatchback manufactured and marketed by Toyota. The Prius c is the third member of the Prius family, and combines the features of a Yaris-sized car with a hybrid powertrain. The Prius c is priced lower than the conventional Prius and has a higher fuel economy in city driving under United States Environmental Protection Agency test cycles. The Prius c was ranked by the EPA as the 2012 most fuel efficient compact car when plug-in electric vehicles are excluded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota New Global Architecture</span> Motor vehicle platform

The Toyota New Global Architecture are modular automobile platforms that underpin various Toyota and Lexus models starting with the fourth-generation Prius in late 2015. TNGA platforms accommodate different vehicle sizes and also front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Corolla (E210)</span> Twelfth-generation Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla (E210) is the twelfth generation of the Corolla, a compact car (C-segment) manufactured by Toyota. Introduced in 2018, this generation has also grown to include hatchback and estate configurations in addition to the saloon (sedan).

References

  1. 1 2 "Affiliates (Toyota wholly-owned subsidiaries)-Toyota Motor Kyushu, Inc". Toyota Motor Corporation. 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  2. Greimel, Hans (September 30, 2009). "Toyota is adding another hybrid sedan--the Sai--for the Japanese market". Autoweek. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  3. Hardigree, Matt (January 11, 2009). "Lexus HS 250h: A Prius For The Country Club". Jalopnik. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  4. "Toyota Receives About 14,000 Orders for the Sai in One Month". Green Car Congress. November 24, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  5. "75 Years of Toyota | Vehicle Lineage | In-depth Vehicle Information, Specification | Sai". Toyota. 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2022.