Mazda, Subaru and Toyota have committed to developing new specific combustion engines to advance electrification. The idea is that the three Japanese manufacturers optimize the integration between motors, batteries and other electric propulsion systems.
«They will be more compact engines, which will transform the internal structure of the vehicles. And, in the case of internal combustion engines, they will be compatible with different carbon-neutral fuels,” the statement says. The latter will be possible thanks to e-fuels, made from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and biofuels obtained from biomass.
Each brand works on a “particularly emblematic” engine:
- Mazda: Rotary engine. It promises to be compact, light and powerful. It is currently used as a generator in the Mazda MX-30 to extend the range of an electric battery by generating electricity.
- subaru: Horizontally opposed cylinder boxer engine. The movement of the pistons occurs in the horizontal plane, resulting in a low-profile engine with less vibrations and a lower center of gravity.
- toyota: Inline four-cylinder engine. It offers high power development and high thermal efficiency. It is the one with the most information available, with two four-cylinder engines, 1.5 and 2.0 liters of displacement. The first has been designed to be sold naturally aspirated or turbocharged. The second, only with turbo. There are three variants of two engines on which the entire future offer of the range will pivot and they have been designed to be sheltered under the hood of hybrids and plug-in hybrids. There is no further technical data, but it is thought that they could appear on the market in 2026.
There are several key points. To begin with, it is not only about improving the efficiency of the motors, but also about better integration with electrical technologies. Another interesting point is that it is committed to smaller blocks, which will undoubtedly allow more licenses in the aesthetic section, such as lowering the height of the hood, improving aerodynamics… and therefore consumption.
They also tell us that “in parallel, the new engines will abandon fossil fuels and adopt other alternatives, such as synthetic fuels, biofuels and liquid hydrogen.” The goal is to expand decarbonization options and (this is important) “guarantee a future for the supply chains and jobs behind engine manufacturing.”
The three companies share the goal of a carbon-neutral society and seek to explore different avenues. We hope to be here to explain to you in more depth what we have under our arms.
