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2016 Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Vehicle likely to get 60 MPGe

Toyota isn't talking about the Mirai's fuel economy just yet, but that doesn't mean we can't make an educated guess. And we do so by looking at the competition and knowing that the DOE says that "One kg of hydrogen is roughly equivalent to one gallon of gasoline." For now, the Mirai's H2 competition means the 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell. It can carry 5.64 kg of hydrogen and has a range of 265 miles. If we do the division there (265/5.64) we get 47 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). The DOE says that the miles/kg values are 49 combined, 48 in the city and 50 on the highway while Hyundai lists the official MPGe estimates as 50 combined, 49 city and 51 highway. The simple math gets us pretty close to these official numbers. Or take the 2014 Honda FCX Clarity. With a range of 231 miles and a max of 3.92 kg of hydrogen on board, division gets us to 59 MPGe. Officially, it's rated at 59 miles per kg (combined), with 58 in the city and 60 on the highway. In other words, simple math is a reliable way to calculate rough MPGe. So, we know that the Mirai can hold five kilograms of hydrogen on board and that the car has a 300-mile range. We don't even need a calculator to figure out that the Mirai is looking at 60 MPGe. Interestingly, that might be what the next-gen Prius will get.

Toyota announces new, more efficient powertrains for 60 percent of its vehicles by 2021

In the face of increasingly strict standards on fuel economy and CO2 emissions, Toyota announced today that it's introducing a new hybrid system, a new 2.5-liter direct-injection inline four-cylinder engine, and two new transmissions – an eight- and a 10-speed. The development of all of these components will be based around the Toyota New Global Architecture, or TNGA. Development of the systems has moved forward and the new powertrains will find their way into vehicles starting next year. TNGA, like Mazda's Skyactiv technology, is a complete design philosophy that focuses on more than just a clean or efficient engine. The first vehicle to deploy the TNGA platform was the current, fourth-generation Prius. With TNGA, Toyota focused on improving handling, ride, and braking performance. The new powertrains are meant to compliment this new platform by being both engaging to drive and fuel efficient. Since TNGA can be adapted for front-, rear-, or all-wheel-drive layouts, it's capable of underpinning a number of potential products. Toyota is arguably the leader in hybrid technology, and taking lessons learned in the development of the current Prius, the automaker has developed the new Toyota Hybrid System II, or THS-II, for rear-wheel-drive applications. Performance has improved versus the outgoing model, and Toyota says efficiency, especially at high speeds, has been improved. In addition, the system's use in plug-in vehicles has been improved. For the first time, the electric motor will be able to provide direct driving power, whereas before it simply acted as a generator. The new, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, like the THS-II, has been designed around the TNGA platform. Most notably, the thermal efficiency of the engine has been improved. This means a higher output and improved exhaust and cooling. The new engine, which works in both traditional and hybrid applications, will proliferate through the Toyota and Lexus lineup. Toyota's two new automatic transmissions, like the new engines, are based on the TNGA system. That means a lighter and more compact design relative to similar transmissions. The 10-speed is intended for rear-wheel-drive Lexus products like the GS and LS. The tuning has been adjusted to improve response and smooth out shifts, though it's impossible to say how much it's been improved without getting behind the wheel.

BMW-Toyota sports car heading towards Tokyo debut

Earlier this year, BMW and Toyota confirmed a four-part joint venture mostly focusing on increasing improving vehicle efficiency using fuel cells, lightweight materials and better battery technology. Also tucked into the announcement was a "feasibility study" for a shared platform to underpin a future midsize "sports vehicle."
In terms of the latter, it seems that things have stepped up from the feasibility stage to the conceptual stage, as Motor Trend reports we could see a pair of new sports car concepts debut later this year in at the Tokyo Motor Show. There isn't much information about the new program, but the article suggests the sports cars could be all-wheel drive hybrids, with electric motors powering the front wheels and a gas engine powering the rear wheels. While a partnership between Toyota and BMW might not lend itself to a catchy portmanteau like "Toyobaru," here's hoping it will bear fruit that is as exciting as the ones produced by the Toyota/Subaru tie up.