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The new Toyota Yaris Cross arrives in Brazil with a flex hybrid version and an engine produced in the interior of São Paulo, highlighting the automaker's strategy of adapting its model to the local public.
O Brazilian vehicle market hybrids are about to gain a new feature that promises to attract the attention of consumers and raise the standard of national automotive production.
However, in a strategic move, Toyota appears to be holding back crucial details of the new model to make an even bigger splash at the time of launch.
At the center of this revolution is the Toyota Yaris Cross, which, in addition to offering a flex hybrid version, will have its combustion engine produced at the automaker's own factory in Porto Feliz, in the interior of São Paulo.
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The decision is part of the Japanese brand's localization strategy, which aims to strengthen its presence in the national market and offer a model specially adapted for Brazil., according to information provided by the president of Toyota Brazil, Evandro Maggio, to the website Auto Data.
National production: focus on Porto Feliz and Sorocaba
Evandro Maggio highlighted that the Porto Feliz unit will be responsible for producing the combustion engine, a fundamental part for the hybrid flex version of the Yaris Cross.
This measure not only boosts national manufacturing, but also reduces production costs and allows greater control over the technology used., which contributes to a model with the ideal profile for the Brazilian consumer.
The Sorocaba plant, also located in the interior of São Paulo, was chosen to host the final assembly of the vehicle, operating in the new unit called “plant 2.” According to Maggio, “This is another platform, which will be assembled in the new factory.
It is a model developed for the local market, with a profile for Brazil. Its viability for export is being studied.”
Hybrid technology with Brazilian DNA
The Indian model of the Yaris Cross uses the 2NR-FBE engine, the same one found in the version of the Yaris sold in Brazil.
However, the hybrid engine The Brazilian Yaris Cross will have to undergo some modifications to adapt to the flex system, a feature that differentiates the national model from those produced abroad.
In India, the Yaris Cross features a version of the 2NR-VEX engine, which works with the Atkinson cycle and is combined with a CVT transaxle transmission, lithium battery and an electric motor with 80 horsepower and 14,3 kgfm of torque.
In Brazil, the hybrid engine to be produced promises to reach a combined power of up to 113 horsepower, taking into account adaptations for the flex system.
This modification to the Yaris Cross engine indicates Toyota's commitment to adapting its technologies to Brazilian specificities, especially considering the popularity of flex vehicles in the country.
“Delivering 91 horsepower and 12,3 kgfm, the 1.5 hybrid system will have to work like the FBE in Brazil, that is, it will have to be flex and this should increase its power to around 93 horsepower,” explained Maggio.
Prospects for the future: national batteries by 2026
Another new feature mentioned by Maggio concerns the Yaris Cross battery, an essential item for the model's hybrid system.
According to the executive, Toyota is already planning to create a specific area in the new facilities to assemble lithium-ion batteries by 2026.
This measure aims to reduce costs and make the Yaris Cross a more affordable option in the hybrid SUV market, placing Brazil in a central role in the manufacturing and supply of these critical components.
According to Maggio, this long-term planning for local battery production reflects Toyota's vision of strengthening the hybrid vehicle production chain in Brazil, making the country a reference in the manufacture of sustainable models.
Toyota Yaris Cross: technical characteristics and expectations
The combination of a flex engine with hybrid technology allows the Yaris Cross to operate with total power between 111 and 113 horsepower, which is in line with the expectations of the Brazilian public who are looking for a compact SUV with good performance and fuel economy.
With the launch of the Yaris Cross, the Toyota hopes to attract an audience that prioritizes vehicles with cutting-edge technology, energy efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint.
At the same time, the automaker is studying the feasibility of exporting the model, indicating that the Yaris Cross Hybrid Flex could eventually be a Brazilian product with international relevance.
Now, what stands out is the possible acceptance by the national public of a hybrid that combines sustainability with attractive power.
Toyota's strategy of locally producing core elements of the Yaris Cross, such as the engine and, in the future, the battery, is a bold move that could influence other manufacturers to follow suit.
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