The biggest Toyota SUV arrives in the UAE - the new Sequoia

Joining the many representatives of the UAE media who attended were Simon Frith, the Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Motors, Hugh Dickerson, General Manager of Sales and Marketing, together with Motoharu Araya, the Chief Engineer from the Toyota Vehicle Development Centre in Japan, who led the team responsible for the development of the New Sequoia.

At the reception, Simon Frith commented,

"Whilst the global economic downturn has had a significant impact on the automotive sector in the UAE, there is still consumer demand for new vehicles. Although the last 3 months have been challenging, I am very pleased to report that our Toyota sales in 2008 were 23% higher than in 2007. This success mirrors the Toyota Motor Corporation's recent success in becoming the world's top selling auto manufacturer. The introduction of the New Sequoia will enable us to provide even more choice to UAE motorists, and further strengthen our market leadership of the Large SUV segment. It is the first of several new vehicles that we will launch this year, evidence of Toyota's commitment to continued investment in product research and development and meeting the changing needs of motorists."

Motoharu Araya explained that he and his team had conducted extensive research in the large US and Middle East markets on the needs of SUV owners, prior to developing the New Sequoia. This consumer research showed that there is a large and growing group of SUV owners with larger families, who use their vehicle predominantly for on-road journeys in the city, and between cities.

These families want a full-size City SUV that is spacious and comfortable, with a versatile and useful interior, responsive performance and handling, and superior occupant safety. The New Sequoia has been designed to meet and exceed these customers' expectations.

Among the existing vehicles that make up this full-size City SUV segment, sales in 2008 increased by around 25% in 2008 over the prior year, reflecting the strong consumer demand for such vehicles.

The New Sequoia is named after one of the largest trees in the world, reflecting it's size, strength, durability and imposing presence. The Chief Engineer explained that the keywords underlying the Sequoia's development concept were Strong and Comfortable. The Sequoia's impressive exterior body design reflects it's power, strength and safety, and give it a formidable and commanding stance, complemented by large 20 inch alloy wheels.

To meet the key owner requirement of space for up to 8 people, the Sequoia has both the longest and widest interior space in it's class, providing an exceptionally comfortable and relaxing space for all passengers. Efficient packaging and design ensure ample seating, knee, leg and head-room so that even 190cm tall passengers can sit comfortably in every seat. It also has the largest cargo-carrying capacity in it's class, with an exceptionally versatile interior that can be easily re-configured to meet different passenger and cargo carrying requirements.

The Sequoia also has a powered tailgate window to allow easy access to the luggage space without having to open the tailgate in confined spaces. The functional interior has a wealth of storage compartments for cups and bottles, and the front console can store and charge a lap-top computer.

Special attention has been given to ensuring easy vehicle entry and exit for passengers. The Sequoia is the first vehicle in it's class to provide a seat slide adjuster for the second-row seats, which also have a one-touch fold-flat, and walk-in function to enable easy access to the third-row seats. The 60:40 split bench third-row seats can accommodate 3 adults in comfort, and have powered reclining and fold-flat functions.

To ensure relaxed and comfortable motoring in extremely hot climates, the Sequoia has an automatic, 3-zone climate control system with independent controls for the driver, front passenger and rear seats. Despite it's large interior, this efficient system ensures that comfortable temperatures are achieved quicker than in competitor vehicles, including for the third-row seats.

The Sequoia's superior performance, driving stability and high-quality ride comfort have been achieved by combining a newly-developed 5.7 litre V8 engine, with a smooth new 6-speed Sequential Shiftmatic transmission, and a new platform. The Sequoia's responsive 5.7 litre V8 Dual VVT-i engine is the largest and most powerful in it's class, effortlessly delivering a maximum output of 381HP at 5600 rpms, and a maximum torque off 55.5kg-m. It delivers class-leading standing-start and passing acceleration, excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions.

A new platform was specifically designed for the Sequoia to ensure class-leading handling stability and ride comfort and to reliably transmit the massive torque of the large engine to the road, and was tuned to meet the road conditions in the Middle East.

A high-mount, independent double wishbone suspension has been adopted for the front, and for the first time in a Toyota SUV, the rear has an independent double wishbone suspension, to deliver enhanced driving comfort and steering control. Higher grade models are equipped with an Adaptive Variable Suspension and electronically controlled air suspension. Improvements in the suspension design, and it's aerodynamic body structure that absorbs and insulates sound, provide for a very quiet and relaxing drive.

Despite its large body size and long wheelbase, the Sequoia is very responsive and easy to handle. The Sequoia's 18 inch disc brakes and ABS braking system deliver class-leading braking performance, which together with the Vehicle Stability Control, and Traction Control work seamlessly together to provide outstanding vehicle stability, driver control and confidence. The Sequoia also has a class-leading minimum turning radius of 5.9 metres, for easy manoeuvrability and parking.

The Sequoia continues the Toyota promise of providing an exceptionally safe driving environment for all occupants. It has driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags, and roll-sensing curtain airbags that reach back to the third-row seats. Unlike competitor models, it also has a center headrest for the third-row seats for added safety. It has a highly rigid body and a new collision-safe frame to provide outstanding impact absorption performance, which was rated the best in its class by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) in the US.

Consideration for the environment was an important priority in the Sequoia's development. Lead-free and easily recyclable materials have been used throughout. And although it has a large engine, it delivers high fuel efficiency and low emissions.

The well-equipped Sequoia is available in three models - the SR5, Limited and Platinum, with 8 and 7 seat models.

Simon Frith commented, "The New Sequoia is a really exceptional vehicle and we are confident that it will quickly become the vehicle of choice in the Large City SUV segment. We are also confident that Sequoia owners in the UAE will feel the same about their vehicle as owners in the US. In the 2008 North American J.D. Power quality survey of owners the Sequoia was rated No.1 in the Large Sport Utility (Multi Activity) vehicle segment. We believe the Sequoia will also set new standards in the City SUV segment here in the UAE, and reinforce our market-leadership in this growing market segment.

In addition to providing UAE motorists with the best vehicles, we are continually striving to improve the service we provide to our customers and in this regard I was exceptionally pleased that Al-Futtaim Motors won the recent Autocar People's Choice Awards for 'Best Dealership' and ' Best Ownership Experience'.

Looking forward, whilst we predict the automobile industry will face a challenging 2009, we are confident of another successful year for Al-Futtaim Motors and Toyota in the UAE. Toyota has enjoyed strong customer loyalty based on the key brand strengths of quality, reliability, durability and overall value. These attributes remain fundamental to our success and will remain our focus moving forward. We have a responsibility to our customers to provide them with vehicles that offer the best cost-of-ownership coupled with good service, and our customers can remain confident that together Al-Futtaim Motors and the Toyota Motor Corporation will continue to provide these."