Toyota’s Latest Hybrid Electric technology to Feature in new Corolla

Bennett  Oghifo

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has announced the start of production of its 5th generation hybrid powertrains for the new Corolla. The latest Toyota hybrid electric low-emission powertrains will be made at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland (TMMP) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) for the new Corollas manufactured at TMUK and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT).

The start of production of 5th generation hybrid engines and transmissions follows the upgrade of seven production lines supported by new investments of €77million and €541 thousand (1) at the plants in Poland and the UK respectively.

TMMP produces hybrid electric transmissions including the MG1 and MG2 motors, integral electrical components of hybrid transmission.(2) These products will be combined with the new 1.8 litre gasoline engine produced at TMUK to form the 5th generation hybrid electric powertrain.

This 5th generation Toyota hybrid technology has lighter, more compact and higher-powered electric motors, which increases the electric drive ratio in the hybrid system. As a result of improved engine calibrations, the vehicle has more power, better overall performance and drivability resulting in lower  CO2 emissions for the 1.8 litre version. The total power of hybrid drive system with the 1.8 litre engine is 140hp, reducing the 0-100km/h acceleration time by 1.7 seconds, to 9.2 seconds.(3)  

The new 5th generation hybrid electric powertrain replaces the 4th generation systems previously produced at TMMP and TMUK since 2018 and 2016 respectively. During this time TME has accelerated its investments in hybrid technology, and in the last four years, the overall electrified mix in the total Toyota’s European sales has grown from 30% to 66%.

Toyota’s affordable, low-emission hybrid electrified vehicles have an important role to play in our pan-European multi-technology strategy which seeks to help everyone lower their carbon emissions. Hybrid technology now features in 70% and 85% respectively of the engines and transmissions produced at TMMP and TMUK, which is a reflection of the ever-growing customer demand for Toyota hybrid products, said Marvin Cooke, Executive Vice President for Manufacturing, Toyota Motor Europe