Hybrid power would give sports models new lease of life in markets where emission regulations limit numbers
Toyota is priming a new hybrid powertrain for its GR models, giving its sporting sub-brand a new lease of life in an era of strict emissions regulations.
The new turbocharged four-cylinder engine being developed by the Japanese automaker will serve as the foundation for this system. For the next generation of its sports cars, a 2.0-litre variant will be used. This is being demonstrated by engineers stress-testing the prototype engine “to failure” in the middle-engined GR Yaris M Concept. The new engine can support both plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid set-ups and features a shorter piston stroke than Toyota’s current engines, making it smaller and lighter.
Key Highlights of Toyota’s New Hybrid Powertrain
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder hybrid |
| Power Output | Estimated 400 bhp for road cars |
| Hybrid Compatibility | Supports both plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and mild hybrid setups |
| Weight Reduction | Shorter piston stroke for a lighter, more compact design |
| Motorsport Application | Engine technology to be used in both motorsport and passenger vehicles |
| Fuel Efficiency | Focus on improved fuel economy for GR models |
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This is important, because a hybrid element can be fitted with minimal weight penalty, suggested Hiroyuki Yamada, a GR engineer working on the project.
He went on to say, “We can use hybrids for future automobiles that use this engine.” Because of its emissions, we will use it in our motorsport activities in the future. “This technology we create will we apply to both motorsport and passenger [car] engines. In the future, we want a more fuel-efficient engine [for GR cars].”
Why This Engine Matters:Toyota’s New 2.0-Litre Hybrid Engine
Technical details of the engine have yet to be disclosed by Toyota, but reports suggest that outputs will hit around 400bhp for road cars.
Given that the current hot hatch has been sold in limited numbers due to strict emissions laws in both markets, the potential of a second-generation combustion-engined GR Yaris, which currently draws power from a 276 bhp 1.6-liter turbo triple, will be good news for Toyota sports car buyers in Europe. Toyota UK boss Scott Thompson told Autocar the GR brand is “is extremely important” to the UK market, because “people aspire to [own] those types of vehicles”.
Thompson added, “From a halo point of view, looking into our brand, what the GR has done has been amazing in terms of the Yaris.” He concurred that increased allocation here might result from the hybridization of the lineup. He considers the addition of a trickle-down technology derived from motorsports to be “critical in terms of how we operate and support our brand.” Toyota has long talked about adding hybrid power to GR models. In 2023, chief technology officer Hiroki Nakajima told Autocar: “Hybrid systems are always a good solution for environmental cars, not just for passenger cars but for sporty cars as well.”
Elsewhere, the mid-engined set-up being tested by the GR Yaris M Concept is also being considered for production use.
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GR Yaris M Concept: A Glimpse into the Future
The concept swaps the GR Yaris’s front-mounted 1.6-litre turbo triple for the new 2.0-litre turbo four, which is mounted behind its rear seats.
However, there is still a lot of development to go, said Yamada. For example, the concept has a tendency to lose control when the weight shifts in long corners – something he calls a “pray to God” moment. “This is something we still need to develop,” he said.
Reports suggest that while the M Concept may hint at a further development of the GR Yaris, it may also have been created as a test mule for the long-mooted MR2 revival.
The sports car with a mid-engine was reportedly approved for production in May of last year.
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