So it seems the 2.8l diesel hybrid motor coming out now will potentially increase fuel economy/range by 10% but at the expense of a reduced payload. 550 mile range would be handy in Australia but pretty unimportant in Europe. The hybrid in this case does not make a big impact on horsepower the way it does in the petrol 4 cyl version.
The 2.8l diesel is a great, proven powerplant with excellent reliability and torque on and off-road but it is a truck motor and its not something you would take to a track to run in a 0-60 speed competition. If one can only afford one car, it’s hard to expect that one car to run the performance gamut from Ford 450 Super Duty to Porsche 918. And if you can only afford one car and have to commute in it, my advice is to get a better job or a second job so you can afford to have two cars. If you buy a 250 in Europe (2.8l diesel) you can expect to enjoy decade’s of flawless use and improved range but be prepared to stay to the right lane on the Autobahn.
In a media statement issued this morning, Toyota Australia said the new “48-volt technology offers approximately 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy” and will debut on SR5 double-cab 4x4 and Rogue double-cab 4x4 models “in the first half of 2024.”
Toyota says the 48-volt technology will be paired with the 2.8-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission and comprises “an additional, 48-volt battery, small electric motor-generator and other components.”
Toyota says the technology will also enable an idle stop/start system, as well as “reduced noise, vibration and harshness.
It is unclear what performance benefits will be delivered – if any – however the company says off-road ability and towing ability are not adversely impacted.
The extra weight of the technology, however, could lead to a reduced payload.