Last December, Toyota unveiled their next-generation gasoline engine family called Dynamic Force. At the time, it was just available in one displacement: a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. Today, the Japanese automaker showed it off in one additional flavor: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. Including its bigger brother, it’ll make its way to 80 percent of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold globally within the next 5 years.
Like the 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder, the 2.0-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder engine features reduced energy loses leading to world-leading levels of thermal efficiency (40 percent for conventional, 41 percent for hybrid).
Among the key features of Toyota’s 2.0-liter Dynamic Force engine include a long stroke, high compression ratio (up to 14:1), variable cooling, higher-response intake air control, and more. In conventional applications, it generates 170 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm while for hybrid applications, it does 145 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 180 Nm at 4,400 rpm.
Together with the 2.0-liter Dynamic Force, Toyota also announced a new kind of CVT to pair with the engine. Their Direct Shift-CVT features the world’s first launch gear to improve transmission efficiency in lower ratios. The transmission system uses gear drive when starting from a full stop before switching to belt drive. The adoption of this launch gear not only improves off the line acceleration and driving feel, but it has enabled Toyota to adopt higher gear ratios for the belt drive equaling better fuel efficiency.
Finally, Toyota has also developed two new 4WD systems to help its TNGA-equipped vehicles achieve better fuel efficiency and handling.
Gasoline engine vehicles use the new Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system. Not only is this system able to distribute torque to the left and right rear wheels according to driving conditions, but it also has a ratchet-type dog clutches on both the front and rear wheel shafts which reduce energy losses and further improving fuel consumption. For vehicles with a hybrid set-up, there’s a new E-Four system which can send more torque to the rear wheels. Both versions are integrated into a new AWD Integrated Management (AIM) system.
Toyota's partnership with Mazda is bearing fruit. High compression ratios, dynamic force, torque vectoring? Equipped with a CVT, this will be a good vehicle for the masses but would still maintain Mazda's niche for upmarket fun to drive vehicles.
ReplyDeleteI have little love for Toyota in the past, but with their improvements in recent car design, quality and innovation, they seem better than Honda now.
While it does share a lot in common with Mazda’s Skyactiv technology, I don’t think Dynamic Force was jointly-developed by Toyota and Mazda.
DeleteHaving said that, yes, Toyota seems to be stepping up their game when it comes to developing new engines and transmissions.
So basically, Mazda got ahead of Toyota in some areas of engine development? The Skyactiv engines were offered several years ago and the new engines that Toyota will be offering is still in testing right?
DeleteBtw, I read news that Mazda is now bench marking Toyota and not BMW anymore.
And now with their upcoming HCCI engine, mazda would again leave Toyota and the others in innovation? It's an old concept but the Germans failed to realize that concept decades ago and now Mazda somehow succeeded in it. I wonder how they managed to do these innovations despite the fact that they are a very small player in the global car market.
DeleteCouldn't agree more. Good on Toyota for continuing breakthroughs and cascading new tech (and safety equipment) to mass market models. Exciting to see these on a Vios near you.
DeleteHonda on the other hand, seem to have stagnateď.
Innovation? LOL... Mazda couldn't even get their istop right. Don't expect too much from this.
DeleteWhile its not perfect, it works. Even the germans haven't perfected their version of istop. The germans were the ones who first created the start stop system which Mazda adapted and made a version of their own. The only issue with the istop is that the battery will only last for a maximum of 2 years, but the system itself works well for most of us, that is.
DeleteI bet you haven't even had experienced a start stop system.
No, and I'm smart enough not to want and look for it in a car. It's more trouble than its worth. You can save a miniscule amount of fuel but in exchange, you will experience the hassle of turning it off in certain situations like in heavy traffic, and paying for additional expenses for that special battery.
Delete5-10% in fuel savings is not miniscule and what is the hassle of pressing one button? Anyway, we have our own opinions and pov on things. You enjoy your car and I enjoy mine.
DeleteIt is miniscule. Saving around 1-2km/L? That's nothing compared to worrying about battery maintenance. 2 years battery replacement is probably the maximum. Maybe if you forget to turn it off in traffic it will only last around 6 months. That's the problem, what if you have multiple users? You can't really train them immediately to turn it off during traffic. There are times when even you will forget it even existed. It's one more thing to worry about.
DeleteThis engine took 11 years of research and development. Way before mazda partnered with toyota. Even now the engine is still going through endurance and durability test runs. You should say that its Mazda who benefited from the partnership not toyota.
ReplyDeleteMazdas contrinution will not come until about 3 years. You'll see petrol engines with diesel like cycle. And vast improvement in rotary engine.
Thanks for the info, while both sides benefited, the main thing that Mazda wants from Toyota is their EV expertise because they don't have any. In return, they let Toyota have a close look on their Skyactiv tech.
DeleteToyota would never partner with someone if they won't benefit. They were amazed with Mazda's efforts with their cars and Mazda greatly need their vast capital as well as EV tech as the automotive industry is getting more competitive year by year.
To make it short, mahilig magbuhat ng sariling bangko. Toyota has just forged its partnership with Mazda few months ago, do you think it's possible in a very short period of time to jointly develop a new engine? LOL!
DeleteYou really hate Honda that much. Atleast Honda has a simple ECON Mode, just a simple press of a button for fuel saving then you're good to go. No need for those complicated istop with frequent battery change. And most importantly, Honda ain't a BMW copycat unlike Mazda.
It will definitely help in that engine's late stage of development. With similar technology,some bugs and problems that this new engine might face had been already been resolved by the Skyactiv tech.
DeleteAn econ mode that greatly restricts the performance of the car is a no no for me. Even with the istop off, the 2.0 skyactiv g averages 8.7km/l @15km/h which is better than my officemate's Civic RS that only averages 7km/L at the same speed. In the Mazda, you don't need to sacrifice performance for efficiency.
While Mazda adapted a lot from BMW, most Japanese manufacturers do the same anyway. How do you think they got the tech they have now? From the Germans, of course. The Germans are the real pioneers and thr japs just adapt and improve their technology at a cheaper cost.
In the past, many people complained about the infotainment screen placement of Mazda, and now Honda is following suit in its Accord. However, the one in the Mazda 6 looks better than the cheap looking one on the Accord with 2 plastic knobs on both sides.
Baka naman naka off econ mode ng kaibigan mo? Besides, its normal that the civic will consume more fuel. Its power figures are equivalent to a 2.4L engine. I get about the same figures with my ford focus 1.5L at that speed. And there are many factors too. Baka mabigat paa ng office mate mo o di niya pa na break in? Anyway, the Mazda 3 is the more fuel efficient 2.0L out there. Sana benta din nila dito yung 2.5L sa US.
DeleteAnon 11:22am
ReplyDeleteI agree.
Yeah maybe the ECON mode is turned off, the Civic RS normally has a slightly better numbers than that with ECON mode on and relaxed driving. Yes it restricts the throttle response of the car but you can still get good response irregardless as compared to the problematic istop system.
The Mazda 3 artificially has better fuel efficiency due to its smaller body dimension at the expense of passenger comfort due to cramped interior space. Uly has admitted it himself, say hello to banged heads upon ingress and egress due to the sloping roof line that greatly contributes to the claustrophobic feeling.
Meanwhile, the Civic is as big as the older gen Accord, coupled with a comfortable seating position making it the more comfortable choice irregardless if you're the driver or passenger.