Toyota is developing a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine for its next generation of hybrids. The engine will be available as a naturally aspirated or turbocharged unit, and it is designed to replace the current 1.8-liter engine in a smaller package. Toyota says the new powertrain, including lighter electric motors and control units, should deliver more than 15 percent better fuel efficiency. The company is also using silicon carbide semiconductors in the inverters to cut energy losses, and the architecture is designed to run on carbon-neutral fuels. That last part matters because the emission benefit depends on whether such fuels can be produced at scale with a genuinely low carbon footprint. For now, the practical takeaway is that Toyota is betting on hybrids staying relevant for years, not just on battery-electric models.
