There seems to be some change on the horizon for the venerable and ubiquitous Toyota Fortuner and Hilux models. The next generation bakkie and SUV are rumoured to drop the 2.8-litre diesel in favour of a potent 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder that is capable of more than 220 kW.
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A report from Japan claims that Toyota is considering replacing the 2.8-litre turbodiesel powerplant in the current Hilux and Fortuner lineup in favour of the new 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit that is set to make its debut in the next year. This rumour aligns with the Japanese automaker’s bid to transition towards less polluting engines in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. In the application of the body-on-frame Hilux and Fortuner models, it is expected to produce 220 kW and 400 N.m while also improving efficiency and packaging constraints. The same engine platform will also be tuned to just under 300 kW and 549 N.m for other applications in Toyota’s portfolio.
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The motor, codeveloped by Subaru and Mazda, which originally came to light a few months ago will also reportedly power new generation sports cars like the MR2 and Celica which are set to arrive by mid-to-late 2026 and 2025 respectively. In addition to this, competition models will make use of a 440 kW iteration of the motor. All of this aside, when compared to the existing 2.8-litre diesel mill in the outgoing Hilux and Fortuner lineup, the new petrol option is 30% more efficient and produces 30% more power based on its displacement. In terms of packaging, the new motor is also around 10% smaller in size.
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With a variety of restrictions and limitations on new engine development, Toyota has made known that they are confident that these new petrol powertrains will be able to deliver and surpass current performance, additionally, these new engines will work with carbon-neutral fuels like ethanol, liquid hydrogen and synthetic fuels, further strengthening their bid for reduced emissions. If more power is required, they can also be paired with hybrid powertrains to further appeal in countries and regions that have strict regulations on emissions.
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