Here is another interesting piece of information. During the presentation of the new Vitz yesterday, Chief Engineer Yamamoto Hirobumi (山本博文) mentioned that the idea of an engine idling system dates back to the Starlet (スターレット) era. Yes, you read it right. The idling technology had been tested at the time, but the time required to start the engine was about 0.7 seconds, therefore there was not much difference in time compared to just turning the ignition key. Just for the records, the new Stop / Start system (earlier post) requires just 0.35 seconds and the cost of it, in the case of the new Vitz, is 60,000 ¥.
[Source: Response]
