10
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
(1) Put the selector lever in “P.”
(2) Depress the brake pedal, and “
” will be displayed on the Multi-Information
Display.
(3) Press the “POWER” switch briefly and firmly.
(4) The “READY” light will blink. After a few seconds, when the \
light remains steady and a beep sounds, you may begin driving.
Starting the Hybrid System
The Hybrid Synergy Drive System utilizes a computer-controlled gasoline \
engine
and electric motor to provide the most efficient combination of power fo\
r the
vehicle. To conserve energy, when the brakes are applied the braking for\
ce
generates electricity which is then sent to the traction battery. In add\
ition,
the engine shuts off when the vehicle is stopped. The benefits are bette\
r fuel
economy, reduced vehicle emissions and improved performance.
NOTE: Fuel consumption and energy information of the Hybrid System are shown on the Multi-Information Display and/or navigation system
screen (if equipped).
Tips for improved fuel economy
1. Ensure tire pressures are maintained at levels specified in the Owner’s Manual.
2. Link trips to reduce engine cold starts whenever possible.
3. Avoid driving at speeds that are higher than necessary, especially on\
the highway.
4. When possible, avoid sudden stops to maximize regenerative braking en\
ergy.
5. Minimize use of the Air Conditioning.
Hybrid Synergy Drive System
30
Star Safety SystemTM
VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing engine power and
applying brake force to selected wheels.
Toyota’s VSC monitors steering angle and the direction your vehicle is traveling.
When it senses that the front or rear wheels begin to lose traction, VSC reduces
engine power and applies braking to selected wheels. This helps restore \
traction
and vehicle control.
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS helps prevent brakes from locking up by “pulsing” brake pressu\
re to each
wheel. This limits brake lockup and helps provide directional control for the
current road conditions.
Toyota’s ABS sensors detect which wheels are locking up and limits wheel lockup
by “pulsing” each wheel’s brakes independently. Pulsing release\
s brake pressure
repeatedly for fractions of a second. This helps the tires attain the tr\
action that
current road conditions will allow, helping you to stay in directional c\
ontrol.
Brake Assist (BA)
Brake Assist is designed to detect sudden or “panic” braking, and \
then add braking
pressure to help decrease the vehicle’s stopping distance. When there\
’s only a
split second to react, Brake Assist can add additional brake pressure more quickly
than just the driver alone can. VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing engine power, and
Traction Control helps maintain traction on loose gravel and wet, icy, or uneven
surfaces by applying brake force to the spinning wheel(s).
Toyota’s TRAC sensors are activated when one of the drive wheels starts to slip.
TRAC limits engine output and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel. \
This
transfers power to the wheels that still have traction to help keep you on track.
Traction Control (TRAC)
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Toyota’s ABS technology has Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD\
) to help
maintain control and balance when braking. Abrupt stops can cause a vehi\
cle
to tilt forward, reducing the braking power of the rear wheels. EBD resp\
onds to
sudden stops by redistributing brake force to enhance the braking effect\
iveness of
all four wheels. All new Toyota vehicles come standard with the Star Safety System
TM, which
combines Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), A\
nti-lock
Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Bra\
ke Assist (BA)
and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
