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Car That Can Park Itself Put on Sale by ToyotaMon September 01, 2003 07:04 AM ET TOKYO (Reuters) - A car that can park itself without the driver havingto touch the steering wheel, said by maker Toyota Motor Corp. to be aworld first, went on sale in Japan on Monday.Toyota's new hybrid gasoline-electric Prius sedan uses electricallyoperated power steering and sensors that help guide the car whenreversing into parking spaces.Toyota President Fujio Cho sat in the driver's seat at a demonstrationlaid on for the press, surprising reporters by holding his hands up asthe car quickly parked itself."I forgot to put on the brake," Cho said. "But it's easy."The new Prius five-seat passenger model is said by Toyota to be morefuel-efficient and cheaper than its predecessors. Rivals GeneralMotors Corp and Ford Motor Co will launch their first hybrids laterthis year.Toyota said it expects to sell 76,000 new Prius worldwide in 2004,counting on growing demand for environment-friendly cars.The sales target is more than double the annual figure for the Priusfor the past two years of around 28,000 units. Toyota, the world'sthird-largest auto maker, has sold about 120,000 of the cars since itslaunch in December 1997."Development of eco-friendly cars is a key to our future growthstrategy," Cho told reporters.Toyota aims to sell 36,000 units at home, 35,000-36,000 in the UnitedStates and 4,000-5,000 in rest of the world next year, he said.The new model sells for 2.15 million yen ($18,430) in Japan, against2.18 million yen previously. The intelligent park assist system isoffered as an option, at an additional cost of 230,000 yen whichincludes a DVD navigation system. Toyota has set itself a goal ofproducing 300,000 of the eco-friendly hybrid vehicles a year by 2005or 2006.

Cool. I could use that since I backed along the side of some bushes.

Now THIS I have to see!

For now the Prius is the only one car with this feature. I'm wondering if Toyota put this option on the Prius because it targets female ???

quote: I'm wondering if Toyota put this option on the Prius because it targets female ???LOL Very good one!

I agree Mike... I have to see this!

I like the new look of the Prius's, but yet, they are number #2 on the Lemon List!

I saw it on the news last night and it was cool. It did park itself. Funny thing was, a woman was behind the wheel. Seriously.

I heard about this on Bob & Tom this morning. I have to see it!

jeez....i could use that sometimes...i think that system ought to be standard for all the people who buy these monster crewcab/longbed pu and suv's and never driven anything bigger than a breadbox all their lives previously!! best entertainment is watching the parking lot of a major store on a saturday with all these drivers doing vehicular gymnastics trying to get into slots !!! LOL better than watching wrestling

I wonder if those who are trying to take their driver's exam can use one of these.