The Future is Now - Toyota and Lexus Showcase Advanced Technology Vehicles at Challenge Bibendum

August 27, 2004 -- Torrance, CA -- As the leader in environmental technology vehicles, Toyota is taking its show on the road to the 2003 Challenge Bibendum in Sonoma, Calif., September 23-25, 2003.

Toyota and Lexus will field a fleet of six vehicles with three advanced technologies, all available in customers' vehicles right now. Participating in the testing and media drives will be the all-new 2004 gas/electric hybrid Prius, the current generation Prius, a PZEV Camry, Toyota Sienna minivan, Lexus RX 330 luxury utility vehicle and Toyota FCHV hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle.

"Challenge Bibendum is a great opportunity for us to show the wide range of environmental technology in the vehicles we have on the road today," said Dave Hermance, Toyota executive engineer of environmental technology. "We're looking forward to being a part of this unique glimpse into automotive technical advances."

The Toyota Team for the 2003 Challenge Bibendum includes: 2004 Toyota Prius: The all-new model and next generation hybrid from Toyota is larger, cleaner, more powerful and has the best EPA fuel mileage estimates (60 city/51 highway/ 55 combined) of any mid-sized sedan. It will be available to consumers in October.

2004 Lexus RX 330: Production SUV with a gasoline-powered, internal combustion engine with LEV II Ultra Low Emissions (ULEV) making it 71 percent cleaner with respect to smog-forming emissions than the previous generation RX. Next year, this model also will be available with a hybrid engine.

2003 Toyota FCHV SUV: Production hybrid fuel cell vehicles leased by University of California, Irvine and University of California, Davis.

2003 Toyota Camry PZEV: Production mid-size car with a gasoline-powered, internal combustion engine that has achieved Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) status.

2003 Toyota Prius: First mass-produced hybrid vehicle featuring a gasoline/electric hybrid engine.

2004 Toyota Sienna: Production minivan with a gasoline-powered, internal-combustion engine. The Sienna also meets LEV II ULEV emissions standards and is 82 percent cleaner with respect to smog-forming emissions than the previous generation Sienna.