Most internal combustion engines are exceedingly unproductive at converting blazed fuel into exploitable power. Thermal efficiency is the term used to measure the efficiency of the engines and power they produce and most petrol engines average around 20 per cent thermal efficiency. Diesels are typically good performers and they deliver almost 40 per cent sometimes.
Toyota has now built a petrol engine for the maximum fuel efficiency and has claimed that the new engine has a highest thermal efficiency of 38 per cent better than any other mass produced petrol engine. The new Toyota engine has two sizes of 1.0 litre and 1.3 litres and both of them should enable 10-15 percent better economy than their existing counterparts. Toyota has used quite a few well-known technologies to its petrol engine to accomplish the higher levels of efficiency. The most famous Hybrid models are sharing these technologies as well.
The Atkinson cycle technology is the major part of new petrol engine and exclusively used on 1.3 Litre petrol engine. It also features variable valve timing technology that allows the inlet valves to remain open during the compression stroke. The inferior air density directs to a more efficient fuel blaze and privileged thermal efficiency. Characteristically, these engines are short of power compared to conventional Otto-cycle engines. Reinvented intake ports, variable valve timing and cooled exhaust gas recirculation are also engaged to get better efficiency.
On the 1.0-litre unit, it is co-developed with Daihatsu which is Toyota’s Japanese partner. They developed similar engine technologies without the Atkinson cycle, this time chip in 37 per cent thermal efficiency. New Toyota petrol engine is also equipped with start and stop technology and is further 30 per cent fuel efficient than its equivalent 1.0 litres unit.
Toyota has not confirmed the models which will use this engine but it is most likely that the Yaris and Aygo will ultimately benefit from the units.
