Good afternoon. I am proud to be with you here in America...in one of the world's greatest cities. I love New York...there is no place on earth like it. And this is a marvelous International Auto Show.

Today, we plan to make history...and this is the perfect place...and the perfect time.

Not only has this show provided more than 100 years of firsts...nearly a century has passed since American engineer H. Piper filed a patent for a gas-electric car.

He never built that car, but hybrid vehicles have come a long way since.

So this truly is the right time...and right place...to unveil the next generation of the world's most popular hybrid...the Toyota Prius.

I will admit that I have taken some teasing about the Prius name over the past five years.

It can be a little difficult to pronounce...especially for Japanese.

But we love the name because it is the Latin word for "to go before".

And it means that Prius is the very first vehicle to offer landmark hybrid technology.

Our first Prius has truly fulfilled that pioneer role.

Since coming to market in 1997, Prius has been purchased by more than 120,000 customers worldwide...fully establishing hybrids as a serious option for the future.

Even Leonardo De Caprio drives one...

But for all the good the original Prius has brought, it was just the beginning of much greater hybrid technology to come.

Today, we have something even better.

What I am about to show you is much more than just a new generation...it is a giant leap into the future.

The new Prius is filled with the latest in environmental and technical advances. It is bigger...more powerful...more stylish...and more fun to drive.

Prius is not just a great environmental car...it is a great car...period.

In fact, our major goal in creating the new Prius...was to build a car with broad appeal for a wide range of customers.

Here's how we did it...

We vastly increased the interior space from compact to midsize.

We added dramatic, aerodynamic styling.

And...we added a mighty new hybrid powertrain that makes Prius more powerful, more fuel efficient and cleaner than ever before.

This new hybrid package delivers amazing mileage and acceleration with nearly 30 percent lower emissions than the current ultra-clean Prius.

In fact, you cannot buy a cleaner mass-production car on earth than the new Prius.

It is that good.

So, with that preview, I am excited to show you the real thing.

Ladies and gentlemen...I am proud to present the leading edge of a new hybrid era... the 2004 Toyota Prius!...