DESPITE THE SUCCESS of diesel engines in Europe and a growing popularity in the US and Australia, Toyota is betting the farm on hybrid technology for future fuel economy gains.
The world’s number one carmaker has halted diesel programs for its volume selling passenger vehicles because of increasing technology and manufacturing costs.
Diesel engines, which typically offer fuel economy figures 20 to 30 percent better than petrol engines of equivalent capacity, add a higher purchase price to a new car.
Dave Buttner, Head of Sales and Marketing for Toyota Australia, told News Ltd that while diesels will still appear in the likes of the LandCruiser, HiLux and HiAce, the company’s passenger vehicles will continue the move towards hybrid technology started by the Prius and the upcoming locally-built Camry hybrid.
The Japanese carmaker also announced recently that it would soon begin manufacturing a hybrid version of its Auris small car - sold in Australia as the Corolla - and while no plans currently exist to offer this hybrid model locally, Toyota Australia has not ruled it out.
Other manufacturers such as BMW, Peugeot, Citroen and Volvo are busily developing hybrid (both petrol and diesel) and electric vehicles to sell alongside petrol and diesel models.
“The smart play is to hedge your bets by having entries in both categories,” Diesel and Hybrid Powertrain Analyst, Michael Omotoso, of J.D. Power and Associates, said.
“There’s still a lot of perception that diesels are dirty, so the strategy for some manufacturers is to have hybrids for those who think diesels are dirty.”
In June, it was reported that Toyota would also be steering clear of diesel-electric hybrid engines, despite growing interest in the technology, particularly in Europe.
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LOL
Toyota has avoided Diesel like the Plague. And that’s good too, as I imagine a Diesel Corolla would sell alright (just look at the Golf TDI) and because they don’t have it, they maybe losing sales - and that’s a good thing! I’m sick of Toyota being Number One etc - move over and let VW take it! The Prius is THE most overrated car on sale anywhere as it’s just a car that shows the tech but nothing else. It’s like Great Tech, Average everything else.
I heard that some GM cars were not included because they were built in factories NOT (wholly or marjority) owned by GM… so Toyota took the Number One spot. IMO, if it has a GM badge on it, it should be included!
Hybrid technology is considered to be only “bridging-technology” until full electric cars, or whatever, arrive.
Toyota do have diesels. Land Cruiser V8 diesel, which I hear is very good. They also have a 175hp 2.2 T180 which is extremely agricutural. (noisy, tractor-like, crude, horrid)
I have driven a few new Toyota’s and am shocked that a new car can handle as badly as this. I am surprised Toyota’s sells so well, but mainly in markets where reliability is paramount (third world - UN), or the drivers do not care how a car handles (USA).
JakeO2 ?
Blah blah blah…
I’ll take a Honda over a Toyota… but VW quality is sorely lacking - and has been for a long time.
That is in less you’re some Deutcheophile who believes in passe misconceptions of ‘Superior German Engineering’ based on 60’s VW bug design and some WWII airplanes (that they lost with) you saw on the Military Channel.
lol….. VW … lol
So Toyota really is steering away from making more diesel vehicles.