Toyota, Mazda and Subaru join forces on next-gen combustion engines

Mazda, Subaru and the world’s biggest car-maker, Toyota, have announced they will work together to create their next-generation internal combustion engines (ICE), despite rivals no longer investing in petrol or diesel power.

At a joint press conference, the three Japanese car-makers said that instead of creating one common engine, they’ll each roll out “signature engines” representative of their respective brand.

For Toyota, that means a new generation of inline four-cylinders, while Subaru will develop a new family of horizontally-opposed boxer engines and Mazda will once again pursue a new rotary engine.

All will be capable of burning synthetic fuels, liquid hydrogen and various biofuels.

These are not expected to be pure combustion engines, but hybrids that draw on electric motors for both plug-in and non-plug-in applications.

Range-extenders, where the wheels are driven by e-motors and the ICE acts as a generator for the battery, are also likely to feature heavily.

Mazda, for example, displayed single- and dual-motor engines that it thinks will be ripe for electrification as a small compact power source for its plug-in hybrids.

It has already proven the concept with the current hybrid version of the Mazda MX-30 SUV that uses a rotary engine.

Toyota, meanwhile, revealed it is working on 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines that will deliver a high output and lead the class for thermal efficiency.

As well as being frugal, each new powerplant will be much smaller to allow designers to lower the bonnet line for better aerodynamics.

To reduce costs, all three car-makers are expected to run common components that could include sharing transmissions, integrated motors, batteries and electric ancillaries like an air compressor and oil or water pumps.

Toyota has a 20 per cent stake in Subaru and owns five per cent of Mazda.

Commenting on the new partnership, Toyota president and CEO Koji Sato said: “In order to provide our customers with diverse options to achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary to take on the challenge of evolving engines that are in tune with the energy environment of the future.

“The three companies, which share the same aspirations, will refine engine technologies through friendly competition.”

Mazda president and CEO Masahiro Moro added: “Given the rotary engine’s compatibility with electrification and carbon-neutral fuels, Mazda will continue to develop the technology through co-creation and competition to ensure it can contribute broadly to society.”

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