Toyota South Africa Motors is set to roll out a range of hybrid models in 2021, including the Corolla Cross due to go into production in KwaZulu-Natal in the fourth quarter.
The Japanese firm’s local arm plans to start building the Corolla Cross (revealed in Thailand in July 2020) at its Prospecton plant in October 2021. The local range will include both a naturally aspirated 1,8-litre petrol engine and a hybrid version of the same (detuned) four-cylinder unit, the latter model with a total system output of 90 kW.
In addition, Toyota SA Motors has confirmed plans to launch both a Corolla sedan hybrid derivative and a RAV4 hybrid variant at some point during the year.
In Europe, the Corolla Sedan 1,8 Hybrid also offers a total system output of 90 kW, with the petrol engine contributing 142 N.m and the 53 kW front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor (drawing power from a lithium-ion battery pack) bringing 163 N.m to the table.
The SA-spec hybrid RAV4, meanwhile, is likely to employ a 2,5-litre petrol engine with a self-charging hybrid system, rather than the 225 kW plug-in hybrid version offered in some overseas markets. Expect a peak system output of somewhere around 160 kW.
“Both these vehicles will be available this year. And both are very well suited to the South African market,” Leon Theron, senior-vice president of sales and marketing at Toyota SA Motors, said during the State of the Motor Industry 2021 address, which this year was delivered online.
Of course, Toyota SA Motors is no stranger to hybrid technology, with the Prius forming part of the current range (and hybrid versions of models such as the Yaris and since-discontinued Auris having been offered locally in the past). The local Lexus line-up furthermore includes a number of hybrid variants, with yet more on the horizon.
