Toyota has done it again: it has hit the table with a new 2.0-litre, 400 HP turbo engine, a real gem for those who understand engineering. What does this mean? That its cars will be faster, more powerful and much more exciting to drive. To give you an idea, it will be an engine that has the capacity to give the performance of a racing car but will be designed for the pure pleasure of driving on the highways. Toyota’s commitment is clear: power and efficiency.
The hype in the automotive industry has been served, of course, and this engine has been designed with the aim of creating the perfect balance between performance and electrification, getting sports cars to excite the public without forgetting that we have to move the market towards a more sustainable future.
A powerful impact engine: the new Toyota.
According to Hiroki Nakajima (Toyota’s chief technology officer), this engine is a revolutionary piece within the brand because it is a four-cylinder block that has been optimized for both longitudinal and transverse configurations, and this will make it suitable for several models of the brand.
This engine was tested in a modified Lexus IS and in a prototype GR Yaris, in both, a performance of over 400 hp and a torque of 500 Nm was achieved. Although Toyota has not yet confirmed definitive figures, the expectation is that it can even exceed those numbers. And we are freaking out!!
Can we compare it with other models on the market?
Yes, we already know that a 2.0-liter turbo engine with more than 400 HP is not something new or novel. What then sets it apart from the rest? Well, Toyota is looking for a much more balanced proposal in terms of efficiency and adaptability. We can compare it with other models such as the Mercedes-AMG M139, which already offers 416 HP in its sports versions, and the Mitsubishi Evo X FQ-440 MR (which was launched a decade ago) which also managed to reach 440 HP.
But Toyota does not want to stop there, it wants to take its engine further in each model to give maximum performance.
On the other hand, Toyota is already developing a 300 HP version of this engine, intended for less radical and more everyday models (because in the world of motorsport, the engine could reach more than 600 HP in competition configurations).
But for production cars, this new engine could become the heart of the next versions of the GR Yaris, GR Corolla (and possibly a new Supra, but this is not entirely clear).
For those enthusiastics, we leave you a fact, Toyota has hinted at the possible return of iconic models such as the Celica or the MR2, which could mean a revival of its legendary sports models!
Despite the rise of SUVs, increasingly strict emissions regulations and ever-increasing technological modifications, Toyota continues to bet on sports engines that provide thrills at the wheel. The Japanese brand knows that there is a large community of enthusiasts looking for cars that are fun to drive, with power and cutting-edge technology, which is what we really like.
Toyota is going to reaffirm its legacy in motorsport, this 2.0-litre, 400 HP turbo engine is a clear and precise statement of intent: they want to increase their ability to adapt to the market and be the first to offer that relationship between power and efficiency. If Toyota manages to make its vision catch on, it would be clear that we would be opening a new page in the history of high-performance engines.