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In America, Chrysler is the leading manufacturer in the mini van market, but have yet to develop a hybrid mini van. Since 2005, Chrysler executives have been shown that the American market is in need of a hybrid minivan and the profit potential is great. They have been encouraged to embrace the hybrid technology and reminded that the minivan is the only untapped hybrid market left.

With this in mind let me introduce the first scheduled but often-postponed entrance to the American minivan hybrid market for 2009, the Toyota Siena.

Toyota already has three different minivans available in the Japanese market. The drive train from this smaller Estima minivan is the likely candidate for use in the larger Siena for the American market. A 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine will be the standard engine used. This hybrid minivan will also be equipped with a four-wheel drive train called the “e-four”. This is a rear-mounted, rear-wheeled electrically propelled motor, which controls and supplies the distribution of power to all four wheels.

This minivan also comes standard with electronically controlled braking system that optimizes the wheel-by-wheel efficiency of the vehicle’s regenerative braking system. This is all packaged in an aerodynamic body with an insulated roof and a humidity sensing air conditioning system.

The expected fuel economy will be in the range of 40 mpg. This is what the American market has needed for some time, a true hybrid minivan.

As for Chrysler, they did enter the hybrid market with the Dodge Durango and the Chrysler Aspen in the late summer of 2008.  By the end of that year, all production had ceased. The American market will still have to wait for an American made hybrid minivan.

www.Hybridcars.com, Toyota Sienna Hybrid