An article in Edmunds reports that following Toyota's announcement that it will buy a 5.9 percent stake in Isuzu, the companies announced that they will pursue a joint diesel development strategy.
"In the Toyota/Isuzu partnership, Isuzu will take the lead in the areas of research and development for diesel engine production and for emissions-control technologies, while Toyota will concentrate on environmental technologies, including basic engine and other technologies and other technologies related to alternative fuels," said Steven Curtis, media and investor relations national manager for Toyota.
If that sounds like Toyota will integrate a diesel engine into its Synergy hybrid drivetrain, you are right, according to Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America.
That's brilliant! Of course, as always the question is when/if they'll be available and how expensive they'll be?
And of course, the follow-up questions are whether it will run on biodiesel (and where can I get some damn biodiesel around here?) and when a plug-in option will be considered?
Posted by: DG | December 12, 2006 at 11:48 AM