Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is aware of the need for an automatic option for its new four-cylinder Lexus IS220d turbodiesel model but has ruled out six-cylinder diesels to match German rivals, saying that hybrids are more environment-friendly.
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New TME chief Tadashi Arashima told just-auto on the sidelines of an engine factory visit that the company was aware the market required the auto option.
“We noticed,” he said. “There is a very good reaction from consumers [to the recently-launched IS220d] but certainly the customers are asking for the diesel automatics and we [TME] are also asking but the issue is the allocation of resources.
“We are very busy developing so many new vehicles and powertrains so at this moment we don’t have enough resources to develop this model.
“With regards to V6, we believe the V6 diesel is probably fine but we developed the hybrid powertrain for Lexus.”
He outlined the various models already on sale or due soon for launch and added: “These hybrid engines provide better CO2 [emissions] than the diesels and, with NOx and particulate matter there is no comparison, much better and much more environment-friendly.
“So we believe at this moment that we ought to go with more hybrids for larger engines.”
Graeme Roberts
