Despite the automotive industry's push towards electric cars, Toyota refuses to abandon the gasoline engine. The Japanese are planning a small unit with 400 horsepower.
Toyota plans to develop a new, compact gasoline engine with an output of 400 horsepower.
The engine, a four-cylinder affair, is designed to deliver high performance despite its modest size.
Horsepower is a central element in Toyota's strategy, as the Japanese want to demonstrate that internal combustion engines can still be relevant in a time of increased focus on electrification.
The engine, which was presented at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2025, is placed in the middle of a Toyota Yaris. Just like the MR2 of the past. The exact use of the engine in Toyota's model range has not yet been announced.
A version of the engine that the Japanese will use for racing will produce a whopping 600 horsepower. That's equivalent to 300 horsepower per liter. The impressive output underscores the potential of Toyota's new engine technology.
Toyota has faced criticism for its continued focus on internal combustion engines at a time when many other automakers are focusing on electrification. The company defends its strategy by highlighting the engine's compatibility with e-fuels, which can make it more environmentally friendly.
Unlike many other automakers that are phasing out internal combustion engines, Toyota confirmed last year that it was developing new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines. The new 400 horsepower engine is further proof that Toyota refuses to believe that electric power is the only viable solution for the automotive industry in the future.
According to Toyota's chief technology officer, Hiroki Nakajima, the new engine is a "game changer." A less powerful version of the engine is expected to produce around 296 horsepower and 400 Nm.
While Toyota is still making gasoline cars, the Japanese are now officially doubting the potential of the hydrogen engine. Partly because the technology lacks support. Read more about it here .
