Toyota, Mazda and Subaru have joined forces to produce gasoline thermal engines that accept carbon-neutral, low-displacement, high-efficiency fuels that move towards decarbonization. And at the same time, in their electrification, optimizing the integration of electrical technologies.
The three brands believe in the future of thermal, especially if it is electrified, and are not convinced that electric BEV must be the only one.
Akio Toyodaa member of the founding family of Toyota and until a year or so ago CEO of the corporation, has always been belligerent on this issue and defender of the hybrid and the possibilities of hydrogen. Today he continues working on the issue, despite the fact that he is honorary president of Toyota, without executive responsibilities.
The alliance must not have been complicated. Toyota does not own the other two, but has a significant, reference shareholding in them.
Joining their efforts does not mean that they give up a characteristic hallmark of the brand. toyota opts for an inline four-cylinder, while subaru maintains its boxer architecture and Mazda is committed to continuing working on its rotary Wankel.
“If we want to offer our customers different options for carbon-neutral mobility, we must assume the responsibility of developing engines adapted to the energy environment of the future. In this sense, the three brands share the same aspirations and continue to perfect our engine technologies through of healthy competition,” he said. Koji SatoCEO of Toyota Motor Corporation.
From the first moment, Toyota – still under the direction of Akio Toyoda – was against the imposition of the electric motors as the only alternative. Their bet was on hybrids and alternative fuels, whether biofuels, e-fuels or hydrogen. Although it has had to launch some battery-powered electric models, it has also marketed fuel cell electric cars on a small scale and has continued to expand its hybrid range.
“Carbon neutrality is a challenge that must be addressed by the entire Japanese industry and society as a whole. We will continue to adopt electric technology and at the same time improve our boxer engines so that it can adopt the fuels of the future. We work to achieve sustainable excellence “he maintains Atsushi OsakiSubaru PDG.
For its part, Masahiro Moropresident and CEO of Mazdaemphasized that “our rotary engine is particularly well suited to electrification and ‘carbon neutral’ fuels. That is why we will continue to develop them.”
But the work goes beyond seeking maximum efficiency in motorization. They understand that the ‘power unit’ is part of the whole and are working to reduce its size. In this way, lower hoods can be achieved that improve the Cx of the vehicle and thus contribute to reducing consumption even further. And reducing size also usually means reducing weight.
He Wankel engine It is already small in itself and lighter than a conventional one. The boxer engine is lower than a four-cylinder engine, although it is mounted inclined to reduce height.
So we are facing a ‘comprehensive’ project to become carbon neutral. Not only acting on the performance of the engine, fuel and combustion, in addition to electrification, but also integration into the entire car.
