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Show Thursday, April 3, 2008 SPRINGVILLE HERALD 23 The Sixth Gear 2008 Toyota ffighlander Hybrid Daniel Souza STAFF WRITER When the original Toyota Toyo-ta Highlander launched in 200 1 it joined the RAV4 and Lexus RX 300 in ushering in the car-based sport utility utili-ty vehicle. The Highlander gained immediate success, setting a standard for car-based car-based SUVs in innovation, comfort and sales. Toyota broke new ground again in the summer of 2005 with the launch of the Highlander Highland-er Hybrid, the world's first hybrid gaselectric SUV with available seating for seven. Now, the all-new 2008 Highlander Hybrid raises the bar once again in the mid-size SUV segment with a complete redesign. The 2008 second-generation Highlander is significantly signifi-cantly larger, roomier and more powerful than the vehicle it replaces. With an increased curb weight, the Highlander's estimated fuel efficiency improves, but nothing' you would innately expect from a hybrid. It makes around 27 mpgcity and about 25 mpghighway according to the EPA ratings. I found that driving the vehicle with my heavy right foot got my fuel consumption rating hovering around 19.8 mpg. The new Highlander is noticeably quieter, smarter and more spacious with versatility and ride comfort. com-fort. Safety also received some improvement. As with all Toyota SUVs for the last three years, the new Highlander comes standard with Toyota's Star Safety System, which now includes enhanced en-hanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Trac-tion Control (TRAQ, an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA). Enhanced VSC helps the driver maintain control by automatically adjusting engine output and braking brak-ing force at each wheel under certain conditions while providing steering assistance in the appropriate appropri-ate direction through Electric Elec-tric Power Steering (EPS). ABS assists in preserving steering control by helping help-ing to prevent wheels from locking up during braking brak-ing in challenging traction conditions. The EBD optimizes distribution of braking between front and rear wheels in accordance with driving conditions and vehicle load to help maintain main-tain driver control. Unlike conventional ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS, which operate oper-ate independently of each other, the enhanced VSC system integrates each of these features to help vehicle ve-hicle maneuverability. The Highlander Hybrid is offered as an electronic on-demand four-wheel drive with intelligence on Base and Limited grades. The Highlander's advanced ad-vanced Hybrid Synergy Drive system's 3.3-liter V6 engine with its high-torque electric drive motor-gener-ator has been extensively upgraded and refined for both power and economy. The new Highlander gained about 300 pounds, growing significantly in every dimension and receiving re-ceiving extensive body and chassis reinforcement. With the added weight, the Highlander Hybrid engineering team was still able to increase output of the Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain to 270 net horsepower. j Based on customer feedback, feed-back, the Highlander Hybrid Hy-brid is now equipped with a unique instrument panel including an energy monitor moni-tor that adds new features to assist the driver in maximizing maxi-mizing fuel economy. Activating Acti-vating an EV mode switch located on the front center console allows the driver to operate in electric-mode under certain conditions for a limited distance at low speeds, or in certain stop-and-go driving conditions. condi-tions. The resulting benefit is reduced fuel consumption, consump-tion, emissions and noise. A new ECON drive mode switch located next to the EV Mode switch activates a throttle control program that smoothes out the throttle throt-tle response. This action helps limit excessive acceleration accel-eration thereby helping to enhance fuel economy. But all of this will cost you a not-so-inviting high sticker price. Certainly anyone who drives a hybrid around not only stands out but also makes an environment-friendly statement, as long as they have a deep pocket. My test drive cost a hefty $7,700 more than the base price. Base Price -$39,950 Price as tested $47,650 ' Mii, ti I ti tli- .iln l 'ill fry Ym v v : V r l 1 ill I1 I .0tb iHm' mi4 Jim ' ill in. Ml i. I J i r-j- Daniel Souza can be reached at sixth.gear. heraldgmail.com '"' - r"'"r I ' 'M'""""I'I'III' """' i '' l Jjjpi ' 10, r - L 1 i a DDirpc nimv at 1 $206.927 LOT INCLUDED " 2500 SO FT. HOME : LANDMARK HOMES "Why RetW Or 8uy Used When You Can Have A New Home?" Our Buyers Say It Best! 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First Source Fundine, j M1361. t5i f Mot rwfhcts vng stwingt on prkm from appontd vwttm and abo nfitKts a $5,000 mcantom to urn ptmfarwad landat THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Based on the book by Pam Munoz Ryan May 30 June 14 Pardoe Theatre Theatre for Young Audiences Torn by treachery y tragedla from her home in the beautiful vineyards vine-yards of Mexico, Esperanza travels to California to build a new life. Once una princesa, now harvesting peaches and potatoes in the fields, her dreams are threatened by misunderstandings and the rumblings rum-blings of a workers' strike in the midst of the Great Depression. Esperanza Es-peranza learns to be more than she ever thought possible . . . and she realizes that family, hope, and roses can blossom even on a dusty farm far from home. Aquel que hoy se cae, se levantara" manana. May 30, 31, June 5, 6, 7, 10, 11,12, 13, 7:30 p.m. Thursday matinee, June 5, and Friday matinee, June 13, 2:00 p.m. Saturday matinees, June 7 and 14, 2:00 p.m. READ ONE BOOK & EARN TWO FREE TICKETS TO ESPERANZA RISING STUDENTS (K-12) THAT READ ESPERANZA RISING OR A BOOK OF THEIR OWN CHOICE BEFORE JUNE 14 MAY RECEIVE TWO FREE TICKETS AT THE CHILDREN'S DESK OF THE PROVO LIBRARY FOR MATINEES ON JUNE 5, 7, 13 & 14 at 2 PM PARDOE THEATRE, HARRIS FINE ARTS CENTER, BYU, PROVO. ADDITIONAL TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED AT BYU FINE ARTS TICKET OFFICE, 422-4322 or BYUARTS.COM Brought to you by: 1-tZ'SaViVl?tt 1 I i mm NiiiiiTiil!! iiii; III licit) II ill PROVO CITY LIBRARY AT jfeAevuf Sfndre PlPAlTMf Of THIATBI AND MIDfA ARTS |