Toyota ready to launch new hybrid V8 engine

TOYOTA Motor Corporation (TMC) has confirmed that it will soon unveil a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged hybrid V8 petrol engine that is destined to sit at the top of the company’s new-generation internal combustion engine (ICE) family.

The electrified V8, which is destined for top-end Toyota, Lexus and Century models, is the halo version of TMC’s modular engine family anchored by fresh four-cylinder units of 1.5- and 2.0-litres in capacity.

Plans to effectively conjoin two of the ‘high performance’ 2.0-litre ‘fours to create a new generation of eight-cylinder engine have been progressing for some time.

The new V8 will be utilised first by an upcoming Lexus two-door sportscar based on the Lexus Sport Coupe concept.

“In (the) news, you see the new Lexus sportscar. (This V8 engine) is (for) that,” said Takashi Uehara, president of TMC’s powertrain company.

The forthcoming V8 arrives as a successor powertrain to the well-regarded 2UR-GSE 5.0-litre petrol V8 that has powered the Lexus LC500, as well as that brand’s IS, GS and RC F products.

The 2UR-GSE is neither turbocharged nor electrified and to retain eight-cylinder power for markets with some degree of emissions regulation, both twin-turbocharging and a hybrid system were deemed necessary.

However, while the continuation of V8 power aligns with enthusiasm at TMC for large engines, Uehara said the decision was based in reliability concerns rather than sentimentality.

“If we first set the maximum power required, we have to care about the design of the maximum RPMs. We have to care about the design of the combustion chamber. Then we selected a V8,” Mr Uehara said.

Toyota’s decision to double-down on high-displacement ICE power places it among a growing set of carmakers choosing to persist with V8s for some markets. Recent months have seen GWM and Mercedes-Benz similarly announce new eight-cylinder powertrains.

BMW and Porsche have also retained existing V8 engines, supplemented with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) motors and batteries to reduce fuel economy and CO2 emissions, at least on paper, but often also in practice.

However, Toyota will take a different approach. Mr Uehara confirmed TMC has employed a conventional ‘plugless’ hybrid arrangement rather than a heavier and more complex plug-in setup.

“We don’t rely on the PHEV system,” said Mr Uehara.

More than one version of the new V8 engine appears to be on the horizon, with the powertrain chief suggesting that “maybe (TMC) could have a V8 with more gentle, or more muscular, heavy-duty versions”.

While initial deployment will be in the Lexus two-door, Mr Uehara said a decision had not yet been made about whether to use the V8 for the forthcoming Century Coupe model, or whether a Toyota sportscar would score eight-cylinder power.

However, Mr Uehara did say that it was technically possible for the LandCruiser platform to fit the new V8 engine in either petrol or diesel forms. A diesel version of the new V8 would be capable of using a hybrid system.