TOYOTA

Going against the grain of electrification, the Japanese brand is developing yet another efficient thermal engine

The automotive industry is not just about electric cars. Toyota is an example of a giant in the automotive sector that is still betting on the survival of combustion vehicles. Proof of this is its new 2.0 turbo engine, which promises to be the most powerful in its category in the world.

Toyota is about to launch a new combustion engine, which promises to be the most powerful in the world in its category. In a move that defies the global trend towards electrification, the Japanese automaker is developing a 2.0 turbo engine that can generate up to 600 horsepower.

Toyota's decision to invest in combustion engines, in partnership with Subaru and Mazda, reflects the belief that the future of mobility will not be exclusively electric. Although it was quick to enter the hybrid segment with the Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle launched in 1997, the company wants to offer a diverse range of propulsion solutions, including combustion engines, hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

While Toyota is investing in new four-cylinder engines, Mazda has opted to return to combustion rotary engines (Wankel) that can run on renewable fuels, while Subaru is focusing on hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles, in a boxer format, with horizontally opposed cylinders.

Toyota's new engine is designed to be the most powerful in the world in its category, surpassing the current record holder, the 2.0 turbo from Mercedes that powers the A45 AMG, which generates 416 hp. But the Japanese brand's unit has the potential to do more. This engine not only promises high performance, but also efficiency, and can run on carbon-neutral fuels, such as hydrogen and biofuels.

Toyota is working in parallel on two different engines: 1.5 turbo and 2.0 turbo, with engines up to 20% smaller than the current ones, also to reduce the weight of the components. The 2.0-liter should be available as an entry-level model and should come with 300 hp and 40.7 kgfm of torque.

A more powerful variant could come with a variant with 400 hp of power and 56 kgfm of torque. And for a super sports, competition version, Toyota should extract up to 600 hp of power from the top-spec engine without electrification involved.

Toyota has been an advocate for the continuation of combustion engines, arguing that the global infrastructure is not yet ready for a complete transition to electric vehicles. According to the brand's data, approximately 70% of combustion engine vehicles will remain in use by 2030. In addition, the company highlights that many regions of the world still do not have reliable access to electricity, making combustion models a viable and necessary option.

Toyota's new combustion engines are being developed with technology that includes direct injection systems and advanced turbocharging. These engines will be used in a new generation of sports cars, such as the future MR2 and Celica models, which will also feature the GR-Four all-wheel drive from the Gazoo Racing division.

Japanese media suggest that the top-spec MR2 and the Celica with a 2.0-liter super engine will start at 10 million yen, which is equivalent to US$67,930. Toyota plans to launch the first vehicles equipped with these new engines from 2026.

What Toyota's new 2.0 engine looks like:

-In the opposite direction of electrification, Toyota's new combustion engine can generate up to 600 horsepower;

-The engine should also run on carbon-neutral and more efficient fuels, such as hydrogen;

-The most basic version will come with less power. It will have 300 horsepower and 40.7 kgfm of torque;

-A 400 hp and 56 kgfm variant should also equip Toyota cars in the future;

-The super sports version, aimed at competition on the tracks, will be “tuned” to generate 600 horsepower;

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