Toyota introduces smaller, more efficient petrol engines

Toyota has developed new petrol engines and claims that these engines are at least 10 per cent more efficient than its existing range. These engines include a 1.3-litre four cylinder unit and a 1-litre, three-cylinder engine. However, unlike the current downsizing trend in the car industry wherein reduced engine capacity handicap is tackled by adding turbocharging and direct injection, Toyota has stayed away from turbocharging for both these engines. It believes, its hybrid setup with additional power and torque coming from an electric motor, has served it well, and will do so in the future as well. However, since these new engines will also go in non-hybrid cars, it might prove to be a challenge.

According to Toyota, these new engines leverage combustion and loss-reduction technologies from Toyota’s hybrid engines. These new petrol engines will be used in models scheduled for partial redesign in the near future, and a total of 14 new engine variations will be introduced globally by 2015. Toyota adds that these engines which use the Atkinson cycle is normally used in dedicated hybrid engines. Use of the Atkinson cycle provides an increased expansion ratio and reduces waste heat through a high compression ratio (13.5), resulting in superior thermal efficiency. 

Toyota aims to further improve the fuel efficiency of the engine by utilising other innovations including an intake port with a new shape that generates a strong tumble flow and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system paired with Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Electric (VVT-iE) technology to improve combustion and reduce losses. Moreover, when combined with technology like start/stop, the real world gains for cars using these engines could go up to 15 per cent, says Toyota.