Toyota Cooks With Gas ... Again

The Age

Wednesday October 8, 2008

Richard Blackburn

TOYOTA'S Aurion may be powered by an LPG engine in the near future. The company is considering reintroducing an LPG engine into both the Aurion and Camry family cars.

The company dropped the LPG option from its large-car range when it ended production of the Avalon and Camry V6 in 2006. But Toyota Australia's sales and marketing boss David Buttner (above) confirms that LPG is back on the car-maker's radar.

"We have to keep our eyes open and look at every potential fuel source," he says. "When your major competitors have announced in advance their plans for LPG, you have to take notice."

Both Ford and Holden have signalled that LPG will play a major role in development of their Falcon and Commodore large cars.

From 2010, Ford will offer an LPG option in its new V6 engine for the Falcon, while Holden has said it is looking at an LPG-only option for its Commodore.

Mr Buttner confirms that Toyota's engineering centre in Melbourne is researching a liquid-injection LPG system for the Aurion.

Liquid injection technology, which is currently not available on either Commodore or Falcon, overcomes two major consumer objections to LPG: lack of power and poor fuel efficiency. -- RICHARD BLACKBURN

© 2008 The Age

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