Toyota to unveil Camry hybrid fueled by compressed natural gas

Toyota Motor Corp., expanding its line of alternatively powered cars beyond the Prius, will unveil a Camry Hybrid in November fueled by compressed natural gas rather than gasoline amid expectations of rising oil prices.

The CNG Camry will be shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota executives told reporters at a conference Tuesday in Portland, Ore. There are currently no plans to offer the concept vehicle to consumers, spokesman John Hanson said. The show opens to the media Nov. 19.


"We are confirming our interest in pursuing CNG within our R&D scope," said Irv Miller, a group vice president for the U.S. sales unit of Japan's largest automaker. A drop in natural gas prices, an increase in North American supply estimates and the fuel's lower pollution levels than gasoline make it attractive, he said.

A surge in U.S. gasoline prices to more than $4 a gallon and tighter vehicle emission rules in the U.S. have led Toyota and other carmakers to boost investments in fuel-efficient technologies. Toyota plans to test lithium-ion plug-in Prius cars next year, and Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. has begun leasing fuel-cell sedans to drivers in Los Angeles. General Motors Corp. aims to sell a battery-powered Volt by 2010.

Natural gas prices are down 4% from the fuel's 30-month high set July 3. Gas for October delivery fell 25 cents to $7.68 per million British thermal units Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.


Honda sells a CNG-powered Civic sedan, the only consumer model powered by the fuel available in the U.S. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates it the lowest in tailpipe exhaust among vehicles with internal-combustion engines.