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2009 Tokyo Motor Show - Toyota Sai

An Electric Car That Can Be Ordered Today

From The Auto Channel

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Enhanced safety equipment

Advanced technologies including a Pre-crash Safety System (featuring millimeter-wave radar) to counter both front and rear collisions as well as seven Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags - standard on all models - and optional rear seat SRS side airbags pursue safety performance at the highest levels.

Preventive safety performance and driving support

• Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control (S-VSC) system - standard on all models - optimally balances driving power, steering and braking to achieve stable driving regardless of road conditions
• Pre-crash Safety system (millimeter-wave radar type) detects risk of collision and warns driver with buzzer and display; depending on probability of collision, system also initiates Pre-Crash Brake Assist system, Pre-Crash Brakes, and Pre-crash Seatbelts to minimize collision damage
• If Pre-crash Safety system determines risk of collision from vehicle approaching from behind, hazard lights flash to warn driver; if collision is highly probable, system shifts front-seat headrests to optimum position to brace occupants for impact and to lessen risk of injuries
• Brake-signal system - standard on all models - flashes brake lights in event of sudden braking to warn driver of the vehicle behind
• On highways and freeways, Lane-keeping Assist alerts driver of lane divergence and assists with corrective steering
• Radar cruise control (with brake control) maintains appropriate distance from vehicle immediately in front within set speed
• Wide-view front monitor simultaneously displays ground in front of vehicle as well as left and right frontal areas

Collision safety

• Vehicle features advanced Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) collision-safety body that incorporates omni-directional compatibility to achieve exceptional collision safety performance in frontal, side or rear collisions
• Body designed to reduce pedestrian head and leg injuries in unfortunate event of collision with pedestrian
• Seven SRS airbags, including SRS knee airbags (driver seat) and SRS side and curtain shield airbags, are standard on all models; rear seats have SRS side airbags and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters (optional) to enhance rear-seat safety
• Active Headrest - standard on all models for driver- and front-passenger seats - shifts headrest to appropriate position to lessen stress on neck and reduce risk of whiplash injury sustained during rear-end collision

"Multi-color sophistication"

Simple, modern interior and exterior designs integrate and refine functional beauty and style

Exterior

The unique exterior, based on the Toyota-brand "Vibrant Clarity" design philosophy, creates a triangular silhouette - a first for a Toyota-brand sedan - that features outstanding aerodynamic performance as well as prominent innovation and styling.

• Low grille reduces air resistance and enhances engine-cooling performance, while plated grille and area around headlights convey quality, creating refined sense of integration of whole front section and express union of innovation and style
• Aero-management features in adoption of triangular silhouette; character line along door shoulder section extends to rear and emphasizes trunk while achieving both excellent aerodynamic performance and stylish sedan form
• Laser welding technology (laser brazing) used for first time on Toyota-brand vehicle to join trunk lid panels; clean and subtle rear view features detailed plated garnishes
• Seven exterior colors, including newly developed Aqua Mica Metallic, available

Enhanced aerodynamic performance

Through use of aero-management, the vehicle's underbody has underfloor covers across large sections to create smoothness, achieving a coefficient drag value of 0.27 - among the highest in its class⁽⁴⁾.

• Front pillars are positioned forward, while rearmost portion of roof is gently sloped, resulting in excellent aerodynamics; sides of front bumper feature "aero-corner" (plane surface to streamline airflow along areas around wheels)
• Light but highly rigid roof panel shaped to reduce wind resistance
• Front achieves negative lift (downward force) when equipped with 18-inch wheels, enhancing tire grip when cruising at high speeds and providing excellent handling and cruising stability

Interior

The cockpit layout is driver-focused and provides outstanding visibility and operability, while the interior conveys modernity and quality with an unassuming and consistent beauty, including a slim and flowing center cluster characterized by advanced functionality.

• Display Zone, which displays information, and Command Zone, for operations, create advanced cockpit that enables driver to focus on driving
• Navigation screen, which displays maps, air-conditioning and audio-system information and more, is positioned in upper center of instrument panel to minimize need to shift visual focus
• Vehicle features Remote Touch system - Toyota-brand debut - positioned optimally on center cluster that allows driver to operate on-screen cursor using fingertips; together with steering-wheel-mounted controls, combined system reduces need for driving-posture changes
• Electro Shift-matic (shift-by-wire) shift lever, conveniently located close to steering wheel, can be used with minimal effort
• Easy-to-use, steering-wheel-mounted controls and Remote Touch allow infrequently used center-cluster controls to be covered, thereby maintaining the cluster's easy-to-use, simple, modern form; combination with thin gauge hoods and shape of armrests provides depth and feeling of quality to advanced cockpit space
• Stylish front seats' thin seatbacks achieve comfort and also contribute to roominess of rear-seat area

Comfort-enhancing features

A Power Easy Access System that supports the driver's ingress and egress and other comfort-enhancing features befit such a luxury vehicle.

Newly developed fabric seat covers (in plum and gray) combine vibrant elegance with a silken textural quality. The driver and passenger seats also have functions that help prevent static electricity build-up and eliminate odors. For optimum comfort, automatically controlled leather heated seats, in plum, are also available.

Storage spaces, including an illuminated and lockable glove compartment, overhead console, and bottle holders, are positioned for optimal convenience.

An HDD navigation system with 8-inch pop-up display comes standard on all models. All 10 speakers of the Super Live Sound System (excluding the tweeters) contain bamboo fiber - a material with minimal environmental impact - for clear sound reproduction.

Fully automatic air conditioning (with a pollen removal mode) that allows the temperature to be set independently for the driver and passenger side is standard on all models. A temperature adjustment switch is also located on the passenger-side door trim.

Plasmacluster Ions(R)⁽⁵⁾ releases a balance of positive and negative ions into the cabin, helping reduce the propagation of airborne germs and impurities, thus aiding the creation of a stress-free cabin environment.

Hybrid-specific features

The color, Hybrid Synergy Blue, which identifies TMC's hybrid vehicles and their advanced nature, is used on the vehicle's emblems, headlights, combination taillights, gauge display, shift knob and power switches.

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