Toyota unveiled its all-new 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid today at the Chicago Auto Show, calling the hybrid (along with the Prius and Camry Hybrid) "a key component in the industry's only three-vehicle hybrid strategy."
The standard Highlander hits showrooms in July with a new 3.5-liter, 270 horsepower V6 — "a 55 horsepower gain over the previous generation's 3.3-liter engine" — while holding firm at 31 mpg city and 27 mpg on the highway. The hybrid is due two months later.
The all-new Highlander chassis is longer, wider, and higher, with four inches added to the wheelbase. Hybrids will be outfitted with Toyota's VDIM stability system, integrating "intelligent" four-wheel drive, electronic brake and throttle control, and electronically controlled active steering.
According to Toyota, all but the base models will offer "a stand-alone backup camera with a multi-information screen, not tied to a navigation system." Highlander will be the first Toyota to feature both active head restraints and a new hood and fender system designed to crumple on impact with a pedestrian. The new safety features, which also include extensive body and chassis reinforcement and three rows of curtain airbags, were "aimed specifically at achieving best-in-class crash ratings."
Finally, AutoblogGreen calls out the Highlander Hybrid's "new Full EV mode":
[Source: Toyota, Autoblog Green]
