15 June 2001: Toyota is introducing a new hybrid engine system to power one of its current 3-litre models in Japan.
The THS-M (Toyota Hybrid System-Mild) will improve fuel efficiency by about 15 percent compared with conventional petrol-engined cars.
Hybrids are powered by smaller engines with electric motors and a battery pack, and Toyota has been early into production of such cars, first with its Prius saloon and this year with the Estimam MPV.
Some 60,000 Prius cars have been sold since its launch in December 1997, in Japan, the United States and Europe.
