00:00 Toyota used the 2007 Chicago Auto Show to unveil its all new next generation Highlander
00:12 and Highlander Hybrid midsize sports utility vehicles.
00:16 Crossovers are starting to replace sports utility vehicles as the sports utility of
00:21 choice among buyers.
00:22 They call them crossover utility vehicles.
00:25 And for this new Highlander, the 2008 model, Toyota has updated the chassis, put it on
00:31 the current Camry and Avalon platform.
00:34 Toyota also has done a major reworking of the sheet metal.
00:37 While the original Highlander came from a Japanese designed model, this one was designed
00:43 in California.
00:45 And you can see that it's got kind of a big brother to the RAV4 look to it with more sculpting,
00:51 bolder fender flares, front and back, and a sleeker appearance with a bolder grill.
00:58 The Highlander, the new Highlander is larger in virtually every dimension versus the old
01:02 model.
01:03 It's nearly four inches longer overall.
01:06 It has a three inch longer wheel base, one inch greater ground clearance, and it's three
01:13 inches wider.
01:14 Toyota also says there's 12 cubic feet of extra room on the inside.
01:19 A little more room for the three seat version that is three rows of seats from front to
01:24 back.
01:25 It comes in three trim levels, base, sport, and limited.
01:28 All except the base come with a backup camera that's separate from a nav system.
01:34 That is, you don't need to have a nav system or look at your nav system to see what you're
01:38 seeing backing up.
01:39 There's a separate screen on the dashboard for that rear backup camera.
01:44 The hybrid version comes with Toyota's advanced DDIM stability system.
01:50 That includes full time four wheel drive with intelligence, electronic brake and throttle
01:54 control, and what Toyota says is true, electronically controlled active steering.
01:59 Now, if you're not interested in the hybrid version, if you get the conventional V6 engine,
02:05 it's the new 3.5 liter, 270 horsepower power plant that has 55 more horses than the 3.3
02:12 liter V6 it replaces.
02:14 There'll be a four cylinder model available, but that's not going to come until about a
02:18 year after the Highlander debuts this July.
Comments