Toyota to use turbos and direct-injection technology

While automakers like Ford and General Motors are already using the technology, Takeshi Uchiyamada, executive vice president in charge of r&d at Toyota, also wants to increase the fleet’s fuel efficiency by putting turbochargers and direct fuel injection in smaller vehicles.

Toyota, which plans to introduce 11 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles by 2012, will add turbos and direct fuel injection throughout Toyota’s lineup, even in 4-cylinder engines used in Corollas and Camrys.

“In the next five years, the general trend is downsizing of engines and the use of turbochargers,” Uchiyamada said in an interview. “Another development will be direct fuel injection. Eventually, we will see significant numbers of vehicles carrying engines with turbochargers.”

Other fuel-saving technologies will include idle-stop and advance variable valve systems.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoWeek