Toyota Motor Corp., which has long expressed admiration for General Motors Corp.'s OnStar system, said Wednesday that it would introduce its own version to allow motorists to obtain 24-hour assistance.

The Safety Connect system will be available this year in some Toyota models, such as the new Prius hybrid, while a more sophisticated Lexus Enform system will be offered on premium Lexus vehicles, Toyota officials said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Safety Connect's embedded cellular technology and GPS will alert emergency rescue teams in the event of an airbag deployment or severe rear-end collision and convey the location of the car.

Vehicles with Safety Connect also will be equipped with an SOS button that motorists can press to reach a 24-hour call center.

"We are proud to introduce these services and advance our relationships with our customers by providing them the features they need to feel safer and more secure while on the road," said John Bucci, vice president at Toyota Motor Sales Inc.'s advanced technology department.

The GPS also will help owners and authorities locate stolen vehicles.

The Lexus Enform system will offer additional convenience-oriented services, such as operator assistance in finding hotels, gas stations and other destinations as well as online access to Zagat-rated restaurants nationwide.