---

Atlanta-Area Consumers Selected For Toyota Prius Demo Driving Program

18 November 1999

Are You the Lucky Driver selected For Toyota Prius Demo Driving Program?

    ATLANTA, Nov. 17 / -- Nine Atlanta-area consumers have been
selected by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) to drive the company's
revolutionary Prius gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle in a four week consumer
test, review and evaluation program.

    The nine test drivers are John and Helen O'Conner, Kelly and Randy Fortin,
Fang Hao and Yimei Dong, all of Atlanta; as well as Michael and Karen Greer
and Helena Cragg, of Decatur.

    Atlanta is the fifth urban area targeted for the Prius Demo Program, a
six-city national tour in which a wide variety of individuals and families
will conduct extended evaluations of the Toyota Prius.

    The Toyota Prius (the name of which is derived from the Latin "to go
before") is the world's first mass-produced gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle
and has been on sale in Japan since December 1997.  Costing about $18,000 (in
yen to dollar conversion), over 30,000 of the automobiles have already been
sold.  The vehicle, a four-door sedan, will be sold in the North American
market next summer.

    According to Mark Amstock, TMS national manager for Prius marketing,
"Prius is a revolutionary product, not just in design and packaging, but in
the way it offers the benefits of both electric and gasoline propulsion --
without any of the drawbacks.  The Demo Program will help us fine tune vehicle
dynamics, develop marketing and advertising strategies and learn more about
the product's strengths and weaknesses."

    Based on Japanese standards, Prius achieves double the fuel efficiency of
conventional gasoline-powered vehicles in urban stop-and-go driving.  Prius
uses the technologically advanced, computer-actuated Toyota Hybrid System that
seamlessly and automatically switches between gasoline and electric power
modes -- or a combination of both.  Capable of speeds to 80 mph, the Prius
derives propulsion from a low-emission, highly efficient 1.5-liter, 58 hp
gasoline engine and a permanent magnetic electric motor producing a maximum 40
hp. Unlike electric vehicles, Prius never needs charging.  On-board battery
systems are automatically recharged during braking and deceleration.

    After the Atlanta program, the final Prius Demo Program will be staged in
Washington, DC.