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The Toyota Coaster is a minibus produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 1969, with the second generation introduced in 1982, followed by the third generation in 1993. The third generation Coaster received a facelift in 2001, and again in 2007. Since 1996, the Toyota Coaster is also sold under the name Hino Liesse II. A number of unlicensed clones of third generation Coasters have been made in China, including Joylong Motors' HKL6700, Golden Dragon's XML6701 and Sunlong Bus' SLK6770. These were sold in China with left hand drive and exported to Hong Kong with right-hand drive. In Japan, the Coaster is sold exclusively at ''Toyota Store'' dealerships. The Coaster is produced in Japan at Kariya, Aichi (Yoshiwara plant). ==History== The Toyota Coaster was introduced in 1969 as a 17-passenger minibus using the same running gear as the Toyota Dyna of the time. Early models used the 2.0-liter Toyota R engine with 4-speed manual transmission. With , an RU19 Coaster could reach a top speed of . Subsequent models used a variety of four and six-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, and an option of automatic transmission was later introduced. A smaller alternative was later introduced at ''Toyopet Store'' locations, based on the Toyota ToyoAce called the Toyota HiAce which had the ability to carry up to 10 passengers but complied with Japanese Government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement that the Coaster didn't. In August 1997, Toyota "Coaster Hybrid EV" minibus was launched, ahead of Prius. The Coaster Hybrid, according to Toyota, became its first production hybrid vehicle. Production of the Coaster Hybrid continued until 2007. The LPG Coaster, fueled by liquefied petroleum gas, was developed specifically for the Hong Kong market and its air pollution problems.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=LPG Coaster - The Green Way to Travel )〕 This kind of minibuses are very common in Hong Kong The Coaster is common not only in Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia, but also in the developing world for minibus operators in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. It is widely used in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Panama, and Peru as public transportation. These buses are imported mainly from Asia and had to have the steering wheel moved to the left and the passenger door to the other side. The chassis of the Toyota Coaster is also used on the Salvador Caetano Optimo and sold in Western Europe. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Toyota Coaster」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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