Toyota Develops New Series of Gas Cars to Get Efficient Engine From Hybrids

Toyota has developed an efficient gasoline engine using technology fine-tuned with gas-electric hybrids, in which Toyota is an industry leader. 

Toyota said the new engine will deliver 10 percent better fuel efficiency than comparable current engines. Two engines will form the base of the new series. The first is a 1.3-liter gasoline engine, it uses an old-style    engine type called the Atkinson cycle, which reduces heat through greater thermal efficiency. The second is a 1.0-liter gasoline engine, jointly developed with Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., that has achieved maximum thermal efficiency of 37 percent.

Toyota said it developed a version that achieves efficiency without sacrificing power. In addition they also used other features such as better combustion and reduced friction to boost efficiency.

The new engine will come in 1.0 liter and 1.3 liter versions, but will be extended to other types, and variations of it will also be used in future hybrid models, according to Toyota.

"They show the future direction of Toyota engine development," said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons.

Toyota has been concerned about the reliability of the oil supply for decades and has focused on green cars, especially hybrids.

The new engines will be used in models scheduled for partial redesign in the near future, and a total of 14 engine models will be introduced globally by 2015.