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Originally Posted by drunken_panda
I bet they will come out with a V6. After all the Camry, Highlander, Sienna, and RX all share the same V6 and they all have Hybrids. Since they already have the battery location sorted out, it shouldnt be too bad in swapping one in.
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The Camry Hybrid only offers I-4 with the system, having a V6 Hybrid for the Camry will be pointless since their purpose was to make a midsized sedan hybrid more fuel efficient, not performance. The Lexus can vouch for Toyota for that problem. Lexus' main point in selling their hybrids are to promote more performance. They all share the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, but Lexus uses it as their advantage for more performance and fuel economy at the same time. This includes the upcoming GS450H, LS600H, and the RX400H. As Motor Trend Magazine saids "Does Lexus need an AMG division?" Which I think using their hybrid lineup as their own AMG lineup will be a cool promotion, where you get performance and fuel economy in one package.
The Highlander is approved by the DOT as a true hybrid as well since it works similarily with the Prius system, only difference is the engine used, a V6. That's why the Highlander Hybrid is allowed to be driven in carpool lanes.
As in Honda, they only added a electric engine with their regular V6 engine, so it's like a little boost for the car, that's how Honda's IMA system works. Their hybrids uses the gas engine 90% of the time, where the electric engine is used as extra power and support, where Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system uses the electric engine 90% of the time, having the gas engine there as the workhorse for recharging and maximum power during high speeds and acceleration.
Even though both Honda's hybrids are recharged the same way as Toyota, (braking and stopping), Toyota's system follows the true formula as a hybrid car.
