LOS ANGELES -- Toyota's RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid will be aimed at customers who are looking for a high-performance SUV that is also environmentally friendly.
The RAV4 plug-in hybrid will go on sale in the second half of next year as the flagship of Toyota's fleet of hybrid cars.
It has CO2 emissions of 30 grams per km using WLTP standards, the lowest in its class, Toyota said in a news release.
The RAV4 plug-in was unveiled at the auto show here on Wednesday.
It has a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled with two electric motors, offering a combined output of up to 302 hp. Thanks to the electric motor boost, the SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds, outperforming its conventionally powered rivals, Toyota said.
Toyota said it has developed a new, high-capacity lithium ion battery for the RAV4 plug-in and added a boost converter to the hybrid system's power control unit.
The RAV4 plug-in has a 60 km (37 miles) electric-only driving range. All-wheel drive is standard.
Toyota launched sales of the fifth-generation RAV4 in Europe in the first quarter with a full hybrid version as the only powertrain option.
The RAV4's European sales rose 32 percent to 72,928 in the first 9 months, according to data from JATO Dynamics market researchers.
