Tuesday 5th November 2013

Toyota's turbo future

Toyota to reveal first turbo petrol for ages at the Tokyo show, which got us thinking

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Toyota has given us an intriguing glimpse into a turbocharged future with news that its eye-popping Lexus LF-NX SUV concept will be fitted with a 2.0-litre petrol turbo under the bonnet to create a sportier version for the upcoming Tokyo motor show.

See the engine in the LF-NX at Tokyo

Frustratingly that's all we're told. No power, torque, bore, stroke, nothing.

But this is still big news given the wider possibilities of turbo power and required a bit of investigation. Speaking to the Toyota press office revealed this engine is essentially part of its downsizing strategy, replacing the 2.5-litre V6 that's currently part of the Lexus IS and GS engine range. We were told it isn't a performance engine 'per se' but that it may have future applications outside Lexus cars.

So then, what could they be? Though the project has gone rather quiet, we know that Toyota and BMW are working on a sports car, which a 2.0-litre turbo would surely be ideal for. Furthermore, with Toyota keen to re-establish some credibility among enthusiasts, could a smaller version be used in a hot hatch too? The Yaris Hybrid-R, though certainly far-fetched, indicated some intent on the performance car front.

Turbo for Lexus saloons; what about these?

We've been told the new turbo version of the LF-NX 'has a lower centre of gravity... emphasised by a front spoiler'. And does that lower centre of gravity come from using a boxer engine, a la GT86? Alright, that's very speculative, but could be another potential installation. Maybe.

It's been a while since Toyota dabbled with turbos, preferring hybrids with naturally-aspirated engines. But on the fast-car side, it made one of the legendary turbocharged engines in the Supra's 2JZ-GTE, plus the GT4's 2.0-litre four cylinder. More recent forays into forced induction have focused on supercharging, including the bizarrely intriguing Corolla Compressor.

PH will be on the floor at Tokyo so there should be additional info then. A press conference is scheduled, mercifully meaning nobody should have to get too close to the LF-NX.

[Ved]

Well they do have a pedigree after working with Yamaha for their best engines so I'm sure it'll work and give a bit of scope for performance models, although they still only have one simmering one at the moment.

On another note, that GTFour still looks fantastic

[KMB]

I very much enjoyed my old Rev 3 MR2 Turbo's engine, which I think was pretty much the same as GT-4 Celica (minus the bigger intercooler maybe).

It would be good to see them giving us something with some power!

[Ved]

KMB said:

I very much enjoyed my old Rev 3 MR2 Turbo's engine, which I think was pretty much the same as GT-4 Celica (minus the bigger intercooler maybe).

It would be good to see them giving us something with some power!

Yep exactly the same give or take a part just swapped around 180 degrees. One of the best engines to come out of Japan for reliability too and was produced from 89 to into the last decade in various forms. Quite a solid little thing

[PunterCam]

Ved said:

KMB said:

I very much enjoyed my old Rev 3 MR2 Turbo's engine, which I think was pretty much the same as GT-4 Celica (minus the bigger intercooler maybe).

It would be good to see them giving us something with some power!

Yep exactly the same give or take a part just swapped around 180 degrees. One of the best engines to come out of Japan for reliability too and was produced from 89 to into the last decade in various forms. Quite a solid little thing

An engine from a better time of turbos though... When turbos were turbos, and didn't pretend to be naturally aspirated! These new turbos are just too soulless, and their existence in a model line up means there's no need for an interesting/slightly exotic engine for the quick versions.

[dublet]

[JonathanLegard]

Weird how both Lotus and Toyota decided to invest in supercharging the Corolla's engine, following completely different engineering tacks.

[bencollins]

At last, they've had crap petrol engines for ages.
Something to go in the future elise.

[JonathanLegard]

Ved said:

KMB said:

I very much enjoyed my old Rev 3 MR2 Turbo's engine, which I think was pretty much the same as GT-4 Celica (minus the bigger intercooler maybe).

It would be good to see them giving us something with some power!

Yep exactly the same give or take a part just swapped around 180 degrees. One of the best engines to come out of Japan for reliability too and was produced from 89 to into the last decade in various forms. Quite a solid little thing

It's a Yamaha unit, isn't it?

[Baryonyx]

KMB said:

I very much enjoyed my old Rev 3 MR2 Turbo's engine, which I think was pretty much the same as GT-4 Celica (minus the bigger intercooler maybe).

It would be good to see them giving us something with some power!

Another fan of Toyota turbo power here, I had a Rev 3 MR2 Turbo which was blessed with a brilliant engine. Looking at that Celica at the top of the article, I could weep for how ugly modern cars have become.

[Studio117]

JonathanLegard said:

Weird how both Lotus and Toyota decided to invest in supercharging the Corolla's engine, following completely different engineering tacks.

Toyotas implementation was utter ste in comparison.

[anonymous-user]

This story is basically "Mainstream manufacturer of boring cars focussing on farting 4 pot turbocharged engines across the board". How is this news? These new turbo engines will be as tedious and utilitarian as all the other droning 4 pots that have replaced all the lovely 6 pot engines in the industry, with none of the exciting characteristics of the old Toyota turbos.

[Andy ap]

An old mate of mine had a GT4 and all he ever did was brag about how fast he went in it (in hindsight he thought he was a bit of a jack the lad). And true is was quick and looked great, the engine being massively tunable as predictable. We went to see a 'tuner' about a gt4 for him to buy and they guy had stuck a GT4 engine in a corolla with antilag sounded amazing near the warehouse.

I remember him bragging about doing 120 down a country lane and the police nearly got the chopper on him but they let him off because apparently he was clearly a good enough driver. Fairly certain he was BS'ing me.

[Ved]

JonathanLegard said:

Ved said:

KMB said:

I very much enjoyed my old Rev 3 MR2 Turbo's engine, which I think was pretty much the same as GT-4 Celica (minus the bigger intercooler maybe).

It would be good to see them giving us something with some power!

Yep exactly the same give or take a part just swapped around 180 degrees. One of the best engines to come out of Japan for reliability too and was produced from 89 to into the last decade in various forms. Quite a solid little thing

It's a Yamaha unit, isn't it?

The 3S series was yes. As was the V10 in the LFA as I recall.

[Mr E]

JonathanLegard said:

It's a Yamaha unit, isn't it?

Yamaha involved in the valve train / head development

[mr2j]

WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT POPPOPOPBANG WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT POPOP WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOSSSSSSSH PSSSHHHT etc etc

[Clivey]

dme123 said:

This story is basically "Mainstream manufacturer of boring cars focussing on farting 4 pot turbocharged engines across the board". How is this news? These new turbo engines will be as tedious and utilitarian as all the other droning 4 pots that have replaced all the lovely 6 pot engines in the industry, with none of the exciting characteristics of the old Toyota turbos.

Hear, hear.

Mainstream engines are not allowed to have character any more; didn't you get the (EU) memo? New cars are becoming increasingly more soulless due to being forced into the same mould by legislation & taxation, with performance models nothing more than blinged-up boxes for magpies. Case in point: The Lexus CT200h. - Why have they bothered to make a bodykitted and big-wheeled "F-sport" version? It's a fking milk float!

[PHMatt]

I loved the 3sgte in my mr2. Spent a few quid on it and got it up to about 320bhp.
It barely did 20mpg and made more nose than and thunder but it didn't half go.
Never broke down either. Just ate knock sensors such was annoying.

[filski666]

aah, turbo Toyotas......fantastic, proper power, great noise and reliable as anything.


every now and then PH run an article deliberately to make me regret getting rid of my ST205 GT4....gits.....



after a trip to the Oulton Park drift circuit with that mucky rally look!

Please make something as fun as the GT4 again Mr. T!

[Escort Si-130]

Calm down dear, its only a turbo, lol

mr2j said:

WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT POPPOPOPBANG WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT POPOP WHOOOOOOOSSSSSHHH PSSSSHHHHT WHOOOOOOSSSSSSSH PSSSHHHT etc etc

[Sampaio]

A hot Yaris? No thank you!