Toyota doesn't believe that the electric car is the only right thing. So now the Japanese are defying an EU ban on combustion engines and developing new gasoline engines.
Toyota is working on developing a new generation of gasoline engines, even though the EU has decided to ban the sale of new cars with combustion engines from 2035.
The new engines are designed to be both more efficient and more powerful than those used in Toyota's current models.
This is reported by Automotive News .
A significant difference between the new engines and those Toyota already has in its program is their compact size. The smaller dimensions allow the Japanese to place the hood slightly lower, which can reduce the car's air resistance and give it a more streamlined appearance.
This change in design could be an advantage in terms of the cars' overall performance. At least in theory.
Among the upcoming engines is a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, which is expected to be launched this year. This engine will initially be used in a sports car in the middle price range. That is, for Danish VAT and taxes. The basic version of the GR Yaris costs almost one million kroner in Denmark. Read more about it here .
In addition, there are plans to develop several variants of the same engine, including a one and a half liter version that will be available both with and without a turbo.
Toyota's new engines can also be connected to a battery pack, thus creating one or more hybrid cars.
In addition, the cars can also run on alternative fuels such as synthetic gasoline or hydrogen, which reflects the Japanese's pursuit of something other than the electric car.
Demand for hybrid cars has increased significantly, including in Europe. This is a major reason for Toyota's focus on further developing engines for this type of car.
According to the industry organization Acea, the number of newly registered hybrid cars in the EU increased by over 20 percent last year compared to 2023.
In Sweden, growth was 16 percent during the same period. Here in Denmark, however, the story was completely different. In 2023, hybrids made up 14.7 percent of the new car market in Denmark. That figure had shrunk to less than 10 percent in 2024.
The same Acea is also urging politicians in Brussels to relax emission requirements for new combustion engines.
If this does not happen, says Acea, it will mean billions of kroner in fines for European car brands. Volkswagen, for example, has warned that it must find 11 billion kroner to be able to pay the upcoming fines from the EU.
