Toyota’s new high-performance gasoline turbo-four is really shaping up to be a potent reality. According to Japan’s CarWatch, who spoke with Toyota execs at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon, the latest prototype that debuted in the mid-engine GR Yaris M Concept truly proved what its new four-cylinder is capable of. Although Toyota didn’t share official output figures, some suggested the concept’s test mule produces around 400 horsepower, which is a lot for such a small engine.

Such numbers corroborate with past reports about Toyota’s work on a completely new next-generation of standard and high-performance four-bangers. Speculation previously suggested that Toyota could be developing what may become the world’s most powerful production four-banger. Toyota apparently has Mercedes-AMG directly in its sights, which currently produces the most powerful production four-pot today: the 2.0-liter M139. It’s derived from AMG’s Formula One team and currently serves duty in the CLA 45 and A 45 AMG models.

Toyota’s New Four Could Make As Much As 600 HP, But Multiple Variants Will Exist

Earlier in May 2024, Toyota held a “Multipathway Workshop,” or a technical media conference to reveal what its engineers and product planners have in store for the company’s next-gen internal combustion engines. Although automakers continue to push towards electrification, Toyota decided to stick with ICE motors and partnered up with Mazda and Subaru to co-develop new versions. Due to lower than expected demand for electric vehicles and Toyota’s aspirations to revive some of its sports cars, the company also doubled-down on its efforts on advancing ICE tech in response.

The original plan called for new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-bangers as replacements for the company’s soon-to-be outgoing venerable 2.4-liter four. The more powerful versions will replace the also soon-to-be discontinued V-6. In that previous report, details suggested that the new 2.0-liter could produce around 296 horses on the low end to as much as 395 to 400 on the high end, with a 600-horsepower variant dedicated for strictly motorsports use.

Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman, Akio “Morizo” Toyoda, supposedly specifically requested Toyota President Tsuneji Sato to greenlight the new engines for production in an effort to reignite his vision and passion for speed and performance. Part of Morizo’s aspirations include making a new high-performance engine that would also succeed the reputation of the original 2JZ inline-six as a performance icon.

More Details About These New Four-Cylinders Surface

According to the latest developments, the new four-cylinders will be flexible with their placement. Meaning, they’ll be able to be fitted longitudinally or transversely, or for front-wheel- or rear-wheel-drive applications. The engines will also have the ability to be optimized for gas-electric hybrid applications.

A few months ago, other Japanese motoring journalists spotted a Lexus RC F test mule sporting one of these high-performance four-cylinders, further cementing Toyota’s intent with these new engines. With all considered and with the debut of the prototype version in the GR Yaris M Concept at Tokyo Auto Salon, all the rumors and teases from Toyota about the new engines appear to be holding true.

What has yet to be confirmed is the possibility of a 600-horsepower variant of the new four-cylinder. Original reports suggested that high-po four-cylinder could be the engine that takes the title as the world’s most powerful four-cylinder, surpassing the Mercedes-AMG M139. But there have yet to be any examples that have come to fruition.

While the new lineup of turbocharged four-cylinders is anticipated to serve duty throughout Toyota’s lineup, it’s also expected to be one of the many highlighted aspects of Toyota’s apparent sports car revivals. So far, a new Celica and MR2 are both anticipated to be underway. A next-gen GR86 and Supra are also in the works. All four models could be likely candidates for these high-performance four-cylinders, with some even speculating that the GR Yaris M Concept is a test bed for the new MR2, from its mid-engine placement. But such rumors haven’t been confirmed or denied.

Source: CarWatch.co.jp

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