The model’s V6 has been killed off … but is the replacement turbocharged four-cylinder good enough for local Clean Car ambition?

CHANCE of local involvement for a new 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol, set to punt into full retirement a 3.5-litre V6 dropped from current Highlander here last year, appears clouded.

Toyota New Zealand has not answered questions about the new engine, cited as the core improvement among a suite of changes set to reach right-hand-drive versions from early next year.

Already serving several Lexus models, the latest powerplant for the big seven-seater sports utility is nonetheless new to Toyota and seems an intriguing substitute for the six.

It makes only 20kW less power, generates 70Nm more torque and – going by figures from the United States, the car’s source point and where the engine already sells – has much the same fuel consumption as the V6, with an optimal overall average of 9.8-litres per 100km.

There is thought to be an improvement in exhaust emissions, which has been of importance to Toyota New Zealand as it strives to be a good citizen under Government’s Clean Car initiatives.

However, the exact count of CO2 is not yet being shared by the maker, which instead only claims an “improvement” in output as well as a 50 percent reduction in NOx (nitrous oxide).

Interestingly, TNZ does not provision CO2 count for the 142kW/242Nm 2.5-litre hybrid drivetrain that presently purely avails to the car – though that’s a semantic.

Highlander stock has exhausted and, according to the Palmerston North-headquartered brand’s website, will not be replenished until early 2023.

That timing raises a flag as it is when the updated Highlander appears set to hit right-hand-drive markets.

News of the new engine has come via Toyota Australia, which indicates it will have the refresh before the end of March.

TNZ has previously stated that hybrids and full electrics – its first being the bZ4X arriving in 2023 - are crucial to making a fleet average CO2 count of 169 grams per kilometre it has set as a target for next year. That’s why it has begun to restrict availability of a high CO2 model, the Land Cruiser 300 Series and its Lexus LX500d equivalent.

In Australia the new four-cylinder turbocharged engine will join the existing hybrid powertrains, and will feature in front- and all-wheel-drive variants of what our neighbour calls the Kluger across all trim levels.

The 2023 update also delivers safety and convenience updates. The 4.2-inch central display on the entry variants is replaced by a 7.0-inch colour monitor, while the higher end models’ current 8.0-inch infotainment display drops in favour of an impressive 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Toyota vehicle availability has been short in many countries, not just New Zealand, and result from the parent in Japan having to repeatedly having to cut production schedules as semiconductor shortages and COVID-19 parts supply disruptions continued to hinder output.

Four weeks ago the world’s largest car maker by volume said it would reduce July output by 50,000 units, which mean it was looking to build 800,000 cars worldwide this month.

However, the brand acknowledged this was not a hard and fast ambition and said "as it remains difficult to look ahead due to the shortage of semiconductors and the spread of COVID-19, there is a possibility that the production plan may be lower."