Leaving electrification aside and focusing on the hydrogen combustion engine, Toyota is betting on its Corolla Cross and plans to bring the model into series production.

Toyota continues to focus on a multi-energy approach when it recently unveiled its new model Corolla Cross H2, a prototype equipped with hydrogen combustion engine to show that there are other possibilities in terms of emission neutrality besides the eletric cars.

Toyota focuses on hydrogen and electric combustion engines

In fact, the Japanese automaker continues to invest in hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electrics, but without giving priority to a particular propulsion. In its press release, the company highlights that it provides the opportunity, for its customers spread across 170 countries and sales regions worldwide, to reduce their carbon footprint today, regardless of their location and daily demands.

As already mentioned in other opportunities, the assembler faithfully believes that it is too early to focus on just one single zero emission solution and, therefore, is developing, at the same time, the hydrogen combustion engine alongside battery electric technology.

To create the prototypes equipped with hydrogen engines, the Japanese automaker, through the team rookie racing, has used motorsport. During 2022, the automaker was present at all Super Taikyu endurance races in Japan with a hydrogen-powered Corolla H2 GR, which was even piloted by the automaker's president himself, Akio Toyota.

The company's hydrogen combustion engine vehicle was rolled out on Europe's public roads for the first time when the GR Yaris H2 was put through its paces in a demonstration race at the WRC in Ypres, Belgium. This technology experiment during motorsport competitions helps the automaker collect data and begin to assess the viability of this type of engine.

Hydrogen combustion engine achieves performance equal to gasoline engine

Over the course of a Super Taikyu season, Toyota was able to expand hydrogen combustion torque by 33% and power by 24%, achieving breakthrough dynamic performance equivalent to a conventional gasoline engine.

Autonomy has been expanded by around 30% and fueling time has been reduced from approximately five minutes to one and a half minutes. In addition to the use of hydrogen, Toyota is working with a range of stakeholders in the areas of green hydrogen production and transportation, with the demanding environment of motorsport as a test bed. With all this accumulated knowledge, the automaker decided to go beyond the tracks and develop a prototype for the streets: the Corolla Cross H2 Concept.

Corolla Cross may go into series production

The compact SUV features a 3-cylinder 1.6 liter turbo engine from the GR Corolla with high-pressure hydrogen direct injection technology. In addition, it has know-how from Mirai's hydrogen tank, allowing the Japanese automaker to develop a Corolla Cross H2 hydrogen prototype that can carry up to 5 passengers and their luggage.

Actual evaluation is currently being done alongside digital development, with the vehicle soon to begin winter testing in northern Japan. Key benefits of hydrogen combustion include reducing reliance on limited raw materials, faster refueling times such as lithium and nickel in the case of electric cars, for example.

Toyota currently claims it is about 40% on track towards production of models like the Corolla Cross H2 Concept.