Toyota is preparing a radical new hybrid system for its 13th-generation Corolla, with launch expected by 2030 and a stated target of nearly 100 mpg in real-world driving. The company has framed the project as a step change in efficiency for one of the world's best-selling nameplates.
The new hybrid is built around a 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine that is around 10 per cent smaller than the current 1.5-litre unit, despite the addition of an extra cylinder. It is paired with a smaller electric motor, inverter and power control unit. Toyota claims the system delivers around 15 per cent better fuel economy than its current hybrids. To support the feasibility argument, the company points to the Aygo X, which already achieves mid-80s mpg figures. The compact drivetrain also allows lower, sleeker body silhouettes, which Toyota presents as a design benefit alongside efficiency.
The hybrid system is being previewed by a futuristic concept shown at last year's Tokyo motor show. It sits within a new "multi-pathway" platform, which Toyota describes as the first Corolla architecture to offer pure-electric power. Unlike earlier platforms, it has been designed with electric vehicles as the starting point, with aerodynamics and packaging prioritised from the outset. The same architecture is intended to accommodate hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and petrol versions of the Corolla.
Toyota's Europe research and development chief, Thiebault Paquet, has outlined the rationale for the platform, which centres on flexibility across powertrains. A practical consequence is that combustion and electric versions can share a single production line. Toyota says this reduces the investment needed to retool factories, a consideration for a manufacturer producing vehicles across many markets.
The company also plans to sell the hybrid system to other manufacturers. Powertrain boss Timothy D'Herde has pitched the compactness of the unit as a key selling point for potential buyers. Talks are already under way with prospective customers, including one unnamed UK firm. Toyota has not disclosed the identity of that company.
One early example of the approach is the Lotus Emira, which is set to move away from its current Toyota V6 engine to a hybrid system supplied by Horse. It is not yet clear which other UK manufacturers will adopt Toyota's hybrid system, leaving open how widely the technology will spread beyond Toyota's own range.