INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW HYBRID HIGHLANDER FOR 2008

Toyota got it right in 2005 when the company launched the world's first hybrid gas/electric SUV with available seating for seven. But Toyota has gone one better with its second-generation Hybrid Highlander, scheduled to be in showrooms in September.

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"The all-new Highlander raises the bar in every metric of comparison, particularly in the areas of safety features, quality and environmental concerns," said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division.

Highlander is improved in power, 4-wheel-drive capability and utility. It is significantly larger and roomier than the vehicle it replaces. It is also quieter and smarter, and it will be a leader in its class in standard active and passive safety equipment. Highlander rides on a new chassis, nearly four inches longer and three inches wider than its predecessor, with an inch more ground clearance and three inches of additional wheelbase.

Inside, Highlander measures more than four inches longer, and it's also wider. This provides additional room between the three rows of seats.

Highlander Hybrid is offered in a Base grade that features 17-inch, six-spoke machined alloy wheels; Limited grade adds 19-inch, ten-spoke alloy wheels, a rear glass hatch and a power rear door.

The Highlander Hybrid has electronic on-demand 4-wheel drive with intelligence on both Base and Limited grades. The advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive® system's 3.3-liter V6 engine with its high-torque electric drive motor-generator has been extensively upgraded and refined for both power and economy. Output of the Hybrid Synergy Drive® powertrain is 270 net horsepower. An EV mode switch allows the driver to operate in electric mode for a limited distance at low speeds or in stop-and-go traffic under certain conditions.

Highlander Hybrid is loaded with safety and driving-control features. It has a segment-leading total of seven airbags, the most inclusive coverage ever provided in a Toyota vehicle, and includes roll-sensing side curtain airbags to help protect occupants of all three rows of seats in the event of certain side collisions or vehicle rollover. Highlander is equipped with Toyota's Star Safety System^TM, which now includes enhanced Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control, an anti-lock brake system with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Brake Assist.

Toyota's Highlander Hybrid employs a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system designed to enhance handling, traction and braking systems that normally react to driving conditions by anticipating a loss of traction in a turn before it occurs. VDIM also integrates the Highlander Hybrid's Electronic Throttle Control with intelligence and Electronically Controlled Braking System. The all-new Highlander also incorporates a corner braking feature to help the driver steer in the direction that offers the greatest control. Hill-Start Assist Control is designed to help prevent the vehicle from rolling backward from a stop on a steep hill.

Slipping into the driver's seat, you'll see stunning silver and birchwood grain-style interior trim, Optitron meters and a hybrid system indicator to help you achieve maximum fuel economy. If it's the Limited grade, you'll see the screen of a backup camera with a multi-information display. Your driver's seat adjusts eight ways -- and two more in Limited -- and second-row passengers can remove a new Center Stow^TM seat or console to enjoy a pair of captain's chairs with a convenient walk-through to the third row.

Toyota's Calty Design Research facility in California sculpted the 2008 Highlander with clean, crisp lines, a wide and stable stance and muscular contours that give this remarkable vehicle a contemporary and dynamic personality. This carefully engineered exterior and a smoother underbody surface combine to minimize aerodynamic drag and maximize fuel efficiency.

See it from every angle, and learn more about its dozens of features, at toyota.com. And look for the Highlander Hybrid at your Toyota dealer in September.