Toyota’s new small engines will bring big advances

Toyota says its new-generation internal combustion engines will have almost nothing in common with its existing ICE powertrains and will provide tangible improvements in every metric.

The new engines in question are a pair of 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol units – one naturally-aspirated, one turbocharged – and a bigger 2.0-litre turbo unit, all of which are being developed with electrification in mind.

According to Toyota, all three engines produce considerably more power than the units they will eventually replace, while offering improved fuel economy and smaller dimensions.

The base 1.5-litre mill, for instance, will be 10 per cent smaller in volume than the current 1.5-litre three-cylinder in the Yaris and Yaris Cross hybrids, and 10 per cent more compact in overall height.

“Adding another cylinder allowed engineers to lower the height and make the overall engine more compact,” Toyota said.

“For the current engine to clear the strict emissions regulations slated for Europe and the US, Toyota would need to curb its power output and use expensive catalysts to clean up exhaust gases.”

The turbocharged version will replace the 2.5-litre engine in the RAV4, Camry and Kluger, bringing a claimed 20 per cent reduction in overall volume while being 15 per cent shorter in height.

Forced-induction will also delver a healthy increase in low-end torque, while helping with emissions.

At the top of the tree, the 2.0-litre turbo engine will supposedly offer a 10 per cent volume and height reduction compared to the current 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine used in the non-hybrid Kluger and LandCruiser 250 Series sold in North America.

“It drastically improves output and will serve a wide range of applications where power is required, from trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles to sports cars,” Toyota said.

According to Toyota’s chief technical officer Hiroki Nakajima, the concept and construction of these three new-generation engines is completely different to previous powerplants, justifying the use of the term ‘reborn’.

“This is what we mean by ‘engine reborn’,” he said.

“By combining highly efficient, compact and powerful engines with electric drive units, I believe we have expanded the potential for offering more affordable BEVs.”

Toyota, Mazda and Subaru announced last month they will collaborate on – and unofficially compete in – the development of next-generation ICE powertrains as well as carbon-neutral and hybrid technologies as part of a ‘multi-pathway’ approach to achieve carbon neutrality.

All three Japanese car-makers will continue to develop their signature powertrains – hybrid, rotary and boxer respectively – as an alternative to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, thereby providing consumers with more technology options at various price points when it comes to their new-car purchases.

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