Last week at the Paris Motor Show, Lexus announced a new 2.5-liter hybrid engine that will be introduced into the lineup next year — now Toyota has released a couple more details:
An enhanced engine for use in hybrid vehicles, based on the 2.5-liter AR gasoline engine, adopts the Atkinson cycle and D-4S system. The enhanced engine achieves the world’s highest maximum thermal efficiency of 38.5 percent, realizing both high fuel efficiency and high output. Hybrid vehicle models equipped with the engine will be launched starting 2013.
Still no mention of the hybrid engine’s total system output, but early estimates have put it somewhere between 220-225 horsepower.
Also announced is 2.0L turbo-charged engine (!!!), set to debut in 2014:
Starting 2014, [Toyota] plans to launch a vehicle with a new 2.0-liter, turbo-charged AR engine, also based on the 2.5-liter AR gasoline engine. The new engine’s smaller displacement will provide higher fuel efficiency while the turbocharger will improve output.
While it remains unconfirmed, the 2.5L hybrid engine should be used in the next-generation IS and the current GS — considering compatibility, this would make both models eligible for the new 2.0L turbo-charged engine in 2014.
(The front-wheel drive ES and RX are also available with AR engines — the ES 300h and ES 250 in China, and the RX 270 in various markets. However unlikely, these two models could also be offered with the turbo-charged engine.)
These two engines are only part of the announcement made by Toyota regarding their technical development timeline — I recommend reading through the full press release, as it details much of the company’s future plans.
[Source: Green Car Congress] (Thanks Johnnie!)
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