Toyota Says New Powertrains Will Cut CO2 18%

Toyota Motor Corp. says a new family of engines and transmissions unveiled on Monday will enable it to boost fuel efficiency and cut carbon dioxide emissions at least 18%.

The new powertrains combine an all-new, 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter “Dynamic Force Engine” that boasts industry-leading 40% thermal efficiency in standard form and 41% as part of a hybrid system. Toyota says the new four-valve, direct injection design reduces mechanical losses, lowers energy loss related to cooling and exhaust systems and offers more torque at all speeds.

The powertrains were created as part of the Toyota New Global Architecture development framework.

The TNGA engine will be offered with an improved 6-speed manual gearbox that is 24 millimeters shorter and seven kilograms lighter than the unit it replaces. The transmission includes controls that automatically adjust engine speed when changing gears for smoother shifts.

Toyota also is rolling out a new type of direct-shift continuously variable transmission (above). The design introduces a first gear that improves launch efficiency and eliminates the sluggishness of conventional CVTs. A sharper drive belt V-angle improves responsiveness.

The launch gear reduces input load, thereby shrinking the size of the transmission’s belt and pulley mechanism. Toyota says the design utilizes a broader range of gear ratios and delivers 20% faster shifts.

When coupled with Toyota’s next-generation hybrid system, the new engine becomes part of a next-generation powertrain (below) that is smaller, lighter and more efficient than the previous design. Toyota says the architecture reduces engine speed during acceleration, while increasing the electric power it draws from the system’s more compact battery. The result is smoother and more sustained acceleration.

Finally, Toyota is introducing two new four-wheel-drive systems. One is an all-wheel-drive system for gasoline engine vehicles. It uses dynamic torque vectoring to match engine power to each rear wheel according to driving conditions. The system uses a disconnect device with ratchet-type clutches that stops unnecessary, power-robbing rotation for both the front and rear axle systems.

A new E-Four all-wheel drive system for hybrids hikes torque to the electrically driven rear wheels by 30% compared to Toyota’s current system. The company says both systems employ an integrated management system to harmonize engine, transmission, braking and four-wheel drive functions.

Click HERE to see animations of the new engine, CVT and torque vectoring technologies.

Toyota will introduce the first of the new powertrains this spring. By 2023, they are expected to propel 80% of the vehicles Toyota sells in major global markets.