Toyota Has Announced Plans to Introduce Luxury Hybrid Cars

According to Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Toyota has announced plans to launch hybrid cars to the luxury car market segment in 2006, both in Japan and elsewhere.

This move comes in an attempt to distinguis the brand from competition in the luxury segment, from competitors such as Germany's Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Many of the luxury hybrid cars will carry the Lexus brand, which has gained a loyal following in the luxury segment of buyers since the launch of the brand in the U.S. in 1989.

First in line for the luxury hybrids is the GS luxury sedan, followed by the IS, then the LS, and finally, the ES.

As gasoline prices have continued on high levels, automakers have been accelerating their plans to introduce new fuel-efficient hybrid cars to the market, and this new move by Toyota follows that logic.


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