Toyota claims its new combustion engine will completely change the game
- Toyota is reinventing the engine, kind of
- The Japanese manufacturer recently unveiled its new family of engines
- Here’s what we can expect from the next generation of combustion engines
Published on Jun 06, 2024 at 4:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on Jun 07, 2024 at 7:25 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Amidst the EV boom, Toyota is giving new life to the combustion engine.
The Japanese maker has been slow to join the electric revolution.
But it’s focused on creating the next generation of more efficient engines.
Toyota’s Chief Technology Officer, Hiroki Nakajima, just revealed why its new four-cylinder engines are ‘game changers’.
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Why is Toyota developing this new engine?
The biggest Japanese car makers have joined hands to commit to both keeping old-school petrolheads happy and reducing their carbon emissions.
Their next generation of powertrains will work with regular gasoline but also biofuel, hydrogen and synthetic fuels.
This is part of the automaker’s strategy to spread itself across a variety of technologies.
They’re being designed with hybrids in mind, but it’s predicted they will also be integrated into plug-in hybrid models in the future.
“The engine is optimized for the electrification era,” Koji Sato, Toyota’s Chief Executive, says.
What does the future hold for Toyota?
The manufacturer introduced its upcoming family of engines at the end of May, and Nakajima recently shared more details about the four-cylinder engine with Automotive News.
Even though hydrogen cars have yet to take off, Toyota has gained significant insights through their development.
While working on the ultimately unsuccessful Mirai, the engineers have made important discoveries regarding engine heat efficiency.
We know that Toyota achieved 40% thermal efficiency with previous engines, and while Nakajima didn’t provide specific figures for the new engines, it’s safe to assume these figures will be improved.
When will we see the new engine in action?
Nakajima shared that the engineers are performing a “very difficult task” by equipping these engines with a shorter piston stroke.
The engines will be smaller, freeing up space within the engine bay.
This design will also revolutionize the vehicle’s packaging, allowing for a lower and more aerodynamic hood, which will boost fuel efficiency.
Vehicles using these brand-new engines will only take to the streets in 2027, giving the team plenty of time to experiment more.
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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.
