Clean machine

winner, writes Motoring Editor Malcolm Baylis.

LET's face it: when it comes to providing high-powered diesel cars, Toyota is definitely not the car in front.

It is not that Toyota has been particularly slow to wake up to the growing demands for diesel power, just that it has been putting all its know-how into good petrol engines. Nonetheless, they have built some cracking diesel engines, but none to match the power of those fitted into BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz.

This could be about to change. The Japanese manufacturer is preparing to unleash on to the UK market a fantastic diesel engine, the 2.2-litre D-4D. It will offer two different higher levels of power than the 2.0-litre 114bhp unit already fitted into the Avensis.

Today, more than 45 per cent of diesel sales in Europe are above 130hp, and it is this particular section of the market in which Toyota has been lagging behind... that is until now.

Leading the new way forward are 2.2-litre four four-cylinder 148bhp and 175bhp D-4D engines, both using what Toyota calls Clean Power technology.

The least powerful will be seen first of all in additional models for the Toyota Avensis range going on sale from July. Oddly, though, the 175bhp unit will not arrive here for another year, in the Avensis, and also in other models such as the RAV4 and Lexus in the future.

Clean Power technology will also be introduced into the Corolla Verso range later.

The D-4D units use what is called D-Cat or Diesel Clean Advanced Technology, to reduce exhaust emissions, and Clean Power technology is even less damaging to the environment.

Overall, Clean Power diesel leads to super-duper power and torque, impressive economy, low exhaust fumes and minimal noise levels. In fact, everything that you expect from a petrol engine.

At the European unveiling of the new engine, held in Germany, Toyota's European bosses announced that it would form a major part of the company's future growth strategy.

Matt Harrison, marketing director of Toyota GB, explaining the late arrival of the 175bhp engine, said it had been timed to coincide with minor styling and specification changes to the Avensis range.

Toyota will continue to offer the existing 2.0-litre D-4D engine on the entry T2 and volume selling T3 grades. The new 2.2-litre D-4D will be introduced for saloon and hatchback T3-S, T3-X, T4 and T Sprit grades and on all Tourer models.

Prices for the 2.2-litre D-4D models range from £18,145 to £22,145. This represents a £1,000 price premium over the 2.0-litre D-4D models.

Because the 2.2-litre engine has a low CO2 rating, just 1g/km more than the 2.0-litre version unit, it is the same company car tax band despite its significant increase in power. Insurance group ratings are just one grade higher than the equivalent 2.0-litre Avensis models, 9E or 10E, depending on the grade.

In addition, Toyota say the service maintenance costs over the industry standard 60,000 miles are 4.1 hours, the best in its class.

Test driving the new engines took place in Germany, where it was possible to push the cars without worrying about speed traps or high-speed-chasing cops.

There is no question that the engines are superb. They are both incredibly responsive to the throttle, ever so quiet with it, and capable of providing welcome economy despite the power.

For example, the 148bhgp unit is 29 per cent more powerful than the existing 2.0-litre, yet economy is the same, 47.9mpg at the combined rate. The wide torque is one of the main strengths of this engine, its 310Nm being on tap all the way from 2,000rpm to 3,200rpm, meaning lots of power to overtake and, at the same time, providing a nice, comfortable cruising speed.

The 175bhp unit is sublime: and making it so is something called "piezoelectric" injection technology, used for the first time in an engine of this capacity. The piezoelectric injectors can pump larger volumes of fuel twice as fast as conventional injectors.

It not only can race to 62mph in 8.6-seconds, but the combined fuel return is 46.3mpg for the saloon, and 45.6mpg for the Tourer (or estate).

A new six-speed, lightweight and compact gearbox is also used for both engines, and there is likely to be an automatic version sometime in the future, if Toyota GB has its own way.

Dealers: York Toyota, Clifton Moorgate, York (01904 693388); Knaresborough Toyota, York Road, Knaresborough (01423 867456).

Fact file:

The new 2.2-litre D-4D engines are lightweight all-aluminium with cast iron bore liners for durability.

The 148bhp unit has a torque output of 310Nm from 2,000 to 3,200rpm. Fuel consumption during the combined cycle is 47.9mpg, CO2 156g/km with a Band D vehicle excise duty rating. Top speed is 130mph with a 0-62mph time of 9.3 seconds.

The 175bhp/400Nm engine, gives a top speed of 137mph with a 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.6 seconds. The combined cycle fuel consumption is 46.3mpg with a CO2 rating of 161g/km.

Updated: 11:27 Friday, May 20, 2005