Automakers Subaru, Mazda, and Toyota collaborate on reducing engine carbon emissions using a combination of collective brainstorming and healthy competition.
At a recent workshop, the leaders of Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda gathered to discuss a multi-pathway approach to achieving carbon neutrality, with a focus on engines. Toyota President Koji Sato spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of diversity in carbon neutrality and the Japanese approach to achieving it.
One of the key announcements made at the workshop was Toyota's plan to work with Idemitsu Kosan, ENEOS, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to consider establishing a carbon-neutral fuel supply chain. This collaboration aims to refine engine technology, particularly in motorsports, and develop new low-displacement inline 4-cylinder engines.
Toyota's new inline 4-cylinder engines play a critical transitional role in the age of electrification. These engines combine efficient internal combustion with advanced hybrid technology to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining performance. The engines are being developed to support Toyota’s vision of carbon neutrality through innovative hybrid powertrains and optimized combustion for better fuel economy and lower environmental impact.
The 2025 Corolla Cross Hybrid and the 2025 Camry are examples of vehicles that incorporate Toyota's new inline 4-cylinder engines. The Corolla Cross Hybrid uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine producing 196 combined horsepower, while the Camry features a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine paired with Toyota’s fifth-generation Hybrid System (THS 5), delivering 227 net combined horsepower. These hybrid inline-4 engines utilize advanced combustion tuning and transmissions, contributing to lower fuel consumption and emissions.
Toyota assigns a “Beyond Zero” badge to its hybrid models such as the Camry to signify its strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and advancing toward carbon neutrality. Beyond typical hybrid applications, Toyota is also pushing high-performance hybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engines to combine traditional combustion with hybrid assistance, creating output near 400 horsepower with improved torque and efficiency.
Toyota intends to thoroughly refine the characteristics of its new inline 4-cylinder engines and develop them into powertrains that can create diverse cars in the age of carbon neutrality. The company aims to optimize engines for electrification, making their structure more competitive and compact, which will lead to more flexibility in engine installation in cars.
The key to creating the future, according to Toyota, is to pursue co-creation and competition. Each company (Subaru, Mazda, and Toyota) is pursuing its own battery EV initiatives. Toyota sees this collaboration as an opportunity to develop engines that are optimized for the electrification era and make it possible to create hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles that are "electric-rich."
In conclusion, Toyota's new inline 4-cylinder engines are central to the company's electrification strategy. They are designed not simply as combustion engines but as integrated components of hybrid systems that maximize fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and support Toyota’s commitment to carbon neutrality through innovations in hybrid technology, combustion optimization, and powertrain refinement.
Technology plays a crucial role in Toyota's electrification strategy, with the development of new inline 4-cylinder engines being a significant part of this approach. These engines are designed not just as combustion engines but as integrated components of hybrid systems, maximizing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions, and supporting Toyota’s commitment to carbon neutrality through innovations in hybrid technology, combustion optimization, and powertrain refinement.
