Toyota wins back-to-back AJAC Best Green Innovation Awards for its electrified powertrain technology

• 2023 AJAC award honours Toyota’s 5^th Generation self-charging hybrid electric powertrain at the heart of the 2023 Prius and 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid


• 5^th Generation system features more power while reducing weight and space


• Win follows the 2022 AJAC nod for Toyota’s zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell system in the Toyota Mirai

TORONTO, Ontario (February 21, 2023) – The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) today awarded Toyota its 2023 Best Green Innovation Award for the company’s 5^th Generation self-charging hybrid system. This new powertrain – at the heart of the next-generation 2023 Toyota Prius and the forthcoming 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid – delivers improved performance and more efficiency while producing fewer emissions.

“We’re honoured the members of AJAC have recognized Toyota’s efforts to develop a range of practical, electrified powertrains – including this new self-charging hybrid system that will become the heart of many of our most popular vehicles,” said Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc. “We’re especially pleased this is the second straight year a Toyota powertrain has won this endorsement, following 2022’s Best Green Innovation Award for the hydrogen fuel cell technology that powers the Toyota Mirai. These awards help confirm Toyota’s global leadership position in providing societies with a choice of multiple electrified technologies – all designed to help reduce emissions while making it easy for drivers to embrace them.”

In developing this new, award-winning hybrid system, Toyota engineers made numerous improvements. These include:

• A new power control unit, integrating a new AC/DC [TM1] converter, boost converter, and discrete inverters for each electric motor.
• A newly developed lithium ion battery pack that boosts power output while reducing both the battery’s size and weight.
• A more powerful yet smaller and lighter front electric motor.
• A more powerful rear electric motor on all-wheel-drive models.

The 2023 Toyota Prius is a stunning transformation of the vehicle that has become the global ambassador for greener transportation. This 5^th generation Prius features bold new styling, state of the art connectivity and safety technologies, and a significant upgrade to performance. Under the hood, the hybrid drive delivers 196 net system horsepower – a huge boost from the previous generation’s 120 – while achieving a remarkable estimated fuel efficiency of 4.8L/100km (city/highway combined). The newly designed hybrid system also enabled engineers to lower the Prius’ centre of gravity for even better handing, and equip it with an improved all-wheel-drive system – ideal for Canadian winters. The 2023 Prius is now on sale at Toyota Dealers across Canada. For complete and up to date details and specifications, visit www.toyota.ca/prius

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid blends the driving fun and agility of a sedan, the versatility and go-anywhere attitude of an SUV, and the remarkable efficiency of Toyota’s self-charging hybrid technology – all in a compact form factor that’s easy to own and easy to drive. The all-new Corolla Cross Hybrid arrives at Toyota Dealers across Canada this Spring. To find out more, visit https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/register-for-2023-corolla-cross-hybrid-updates

About Toyota Canada Inc.
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over six million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI’s head office is in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Clarington and Vancouver. Toyota also operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX 350, RX 350h, RX 500h, as well as Lexus NX 250, NX 350 and NX 350h. The company has sold more than 20 million electrified vehicles worldwide and is the number one seller of electrified vehicles in Canada.

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