[Cartoday]
Toyota’s future will focus on reducing fuel economy and saving the environment…it looks unlikely that the Supra will play a part in achieving either of these goals.
Two of Toyota’s heads have made a bold statement regarding the nature of its future model line up. In an announcement made a couple of months ago, the firm’s powertrain chief Masatami Takimoto claimed that hybrid drive systems would account for “100 percent” of Toyota’s vehicles by 2020.
This emphatic claim has now been lent some extra weight two more high-ranking officials at the company: Toyota’s advanced powertrain program manager, Justin Ward, and company 
president, Katsuaki Watanabe.
According to Ward, the million or so hybrids sold by Toyota have contributed to a 3 million kilogram reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. As impressive as this may sound, Toyota sees this as the tip pf the iceberg and is not limiting its green efforts solely to hybrid technology.
Hydrogen fuel cells have been under review, but the company is holding fire on immediate developments citing a lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructures worldwide, which could 
potentially nullify the concept altogether.
The more immediate technological solution is the adoption of plug-in hybrids, such as the Chevrolet Volt, but even this technology has its limitations. Most plug-ins have a range of just 64 km a day, which could suffice for urban commuting, but is not suitable for those looking to travel greater distances by road – something we in South Africa do often – where travelers will revert to conventional engined vehicles. Because of this trend, the overall emissions saving is just 35 percent.
Ward has also noted that the key to the whole equation is realizing where the energy being used to transport the cars is coming from, and what the big picture of emissions really looks like, even if the local emissions at the tailpipe seem very ‘green’.
In the meantime, Toyota is paring down its range of less fuel-efficient SUVs and bakkies (especially its gargantuan stateside offerings) in favour of smaller powerplants and hybrids. Of course, this means that the company’s future Supra project has been canned in favour of the lightweight two-seater roadster being developed in conjunction with Subaru.
The 2010 Prius will replace its 1,5-litre Yaris engine with a more powerful 1,8-litre unit from the Corolla. Despite the welcome power hike, a combination of solar panels and an improved nickel-metal hydride battery should improve the hybrid’s efficiency.
Other carmakers are also echoing Toyota’s sentiment. Mercedes-Benz has promised a hybrid option within each segment of its line up, as has Chrysler. The next four years will also see the introduction of no less than 16 new hybrid vehicles from GM.