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Toyota exec: Time for oil alternative

The auto industry has to be a leader in breaking the dependence on fossil fuels, the company's

U.S. chief says.

CHICAGO - Toyota Motor Corp.'s top U.S. executive praised President Bush's emphasis on alternative fuels in his recent State of the Union address, but said the auto industry must devise solutions to the country's dependence on oil.

"We have to reassert our voice and take responsibility for being part of the solution," said Jim Press, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. "It's time to stop being an "against' industry and come out "for' something."

Press spoke at the opening of the media preview of the Chicago Auto Show, which opens to the public Friday through Feb. 19.

Bush pressed Congress to advance the development of batteries in hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles, saying the nation must "change how we power our automobiles." He also promoted ethanol production from sources other than corn, including wood chips, stalks and grass.

General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG and other automakers sell vehicles that can run on ethanol, but there are very few ethanol fuel stations.

Hyundai Motor Co. is entering the minivan market.

The South Korean automaker unveiled the 2007 Hyundai Entourage on Wednesday and predicted it will quickly become a force to contend with in the crowded segment.

The Entourage has more standard safety features than competitors like the Toyota Sienna, including electronic stability control and side-curtain air bags that protect the head, according to John Krafcik, Hyundai's North American product development chief.

It's also the first vehicle from Hyundai with third-row seating that folds into the floor. The Entourage has a 242-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine.

The Entourage goes on sale this spring and will cost $23,795 fully loaded, comparable to the starting price of the Sienna, according to Edmunds.com.

It could face an uphill battle in a market under pressure from crossover vehicles and small sport utilities. Minivan sales were flat in 2005, according to Autodata Corp.

DaimlerChrysler AG on Wednesday introduced a concept pickup truck designed for families, with seating for five and sliding side doors.

The Dodge Rampage borrows Sto-N-Go seating from Chrysler's minivans, which gives the pickup more cargo space when needed. It also has a ramp that slides out from the bed for loading. The Rampage is equipped with a 345-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi engine.

Chrysler Group design chief Trevor Creed said an increasing number of families are using pickups as a primary vehicle and want a more spacious and comfortable interior.

Creed wouldn't say whether the Rampage will become a production vehicle, but a number of Chrysler's recent concepts have quickly become production vehicles, including the Dodge Nitro mid-size sport utility vehicle, which was a concept at last year's Chicago Auto Show and was introduced Wednesday as a production vehicle.

Toyota Motor Corp. hopes to grab more of the entry-luxury segment with its ES350 sedan, unveiled Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show.

Bob Carter, vice president and general manager of the Lexus division, said the fifth-generation sedan - which replaces the ES330 - has a larger interior and more power than the company's flagship LS had when it was introduced in 1990.

The ES350 has a 272-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine and new features such as knee air bags in the front seat and an optional panoramic glass roof that covers the entire cabin. The ES350 will get 25 mpg, better than previous models.

Carter said Lexus expects to sell 70,000 ES350s a year. Last year, ES330 sales were down 11 percent, to 67,577. The ES350 goes on sale in April. Pricing wasn't revealed, but the ES330 starts at $32,300.

[Last modified February 9, 2006, 01:29:11]