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Toyota and Lexus may introduce turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines by 2015, according to a new report from Automotive News. The revelation comes after Toyota trademarked the names NX 200t and NX 300h for a future compact crossover.
Although many automakers have launched turbo-four engines in recent years, which can provide the same power as a V-6 but achieve better fuel economy, Toyota has resisted. Neither the automaker nor its luxury division, Lexus, offers a turbocharged vehicle in the U.S. market. And while key competitors like the Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata now offer 2.0-liter turbo engines, the Toyota Camry continues with the company’s venerable 3.5-liter V-6.
According to AN, the NX 200t trademark hints at a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will debut by late 2014 or early 2015. A hybrid derivative would debut in a model called the NX 300h. The turbo-four engine could also appear as the base engine in the Lexus IS250, as well as in the Toyota RAV4. Some of the RAV4′s competitors, including the Ford Escape and Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, already offer 2.0-liter turbo engines. So far, Toyota has focused mainly on introducing hybrids to save fuel.
