AJAC recognizes Toyota Canada Inc. with award(s)

Lexus RX 450h named 2010 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year

Beltless engine named 2010 Best New Green Technology

Ecological Plastics named 2010 Best New Green Technology
 
(TORONTO) Further cementing its leadership in the development of more sustainable automobiles, Toyota Canada Inc. today thanked the members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for the following important awards:
  • AJAC named the Lexus RX 450h hybrid luxury SUV its 2010 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.
  • AJAC named the hybrid powertrain improvements to the Toyota Prius – most notably the world’s first beltless engine in which all accessories are electrically-driven – as the 2010 Best New Green Technology.
  • AJAC named the ecological plastics – derived from plant material instead of petroleum and used on the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Lexus HS 250h – as its Best New Green Technology.
“Globally, Toyota spends more than one million dollars per hour on research and development – and much of that investment is directed towards making our vehicles more environmentally sustainable by reducing the environmental impact of their manufacture and use,” said Sandy Di Felice, Director, Toyota Canada Inc. “We are pleased to accept [this award/these awards] and thank the members of AJAC for this important recognition of our efforts to deliver greener transportation to the world’s drivers.”

Lexus RX 450h – Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year

For the all-new, second-generation 2010 Lexus RX 450h, designers delivered more power, advanced performance and intuitive human-vehicle controls, coupled to best-in-class fuel efficiency and low emissions. The result is a significant update of the pioneering luxury hybrid to create a no-compromise, ultimate driving experience – and a future-friendly standout as the 2010 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.

Beltless Atkinson Cycle Engine – Best New Green Technology

For the 3rd generation, 2010 Toyota Prius, Toyota engineers developed the world’s first beltless engine. When a belt is used to drive systems such as air conditioning, power steering and the water pump, it draws power from the engine, resulting in reduced fuel efficiency. In Toyota’s new beltless engine, all accessories are electrically driven. In the new Prius, this contributed to a horsepower boost of 22%, along with 7% better fuel efficiency than in the previous generation of the world’s most proven gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.

Ecological Plastics – Best New Green Technology

For the 3rd generation, 2010 Toyota Prius and the all-new, 2010 Lexus HS 250h, designers specified the use of ecological plastics for certain components. These are plastics manufactured using oils from plants, rather than traditional petroleum resources. As such, they have come from a renewable resource that had contributed to scrubbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grew. Toyota continues to expand its use of ecological plastics as part of its commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of its products and manufacturing operations.

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