Toyota's Trucks And SUVs Could Get New V8 Power

Speaking with Australia's Drive magazine at the Japan Mobility Show, Uehara-san explained that the new V8 shares fundamental architecture with Toyota’s “G20E” 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine currently being tested in the GR Yaris M Concept.

Both engines belong to Toyota’s next generation of modular combustion engines, which also includes a new 1.5 four-cylinder unit. In essence, the V8 is a larger, more powerful evolution of that design, derived from a common modular philosophy. That means displacement, cylinder count, and even fuel type are variables while maintaining shared underlying engineering.

The new V8 is effectively a pair of 2.0-liter G20E engines sharing a common crank to make a single 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine.

Toyota’s approach could simplify manufacturing and reduce costs, which would allow the company to install the V8 in a wider range of vehicles. That versatility extends beyond gasoline applications—Uehara-san reportedly said the new V8 architecture could even be configured as a diesel engine paired with a hybrid system. Although Uehara-san stressed that the new setup is not a plug-in hybrid, saying, “We don’t rely on the PHEV system.”

Toyota’s modular powertrain strategy suggests the V8 could eventually appear in high-end SUVs and trucks. Vehicles such as the Land Cruiser LC250 and LC300, Sequoia, and Tundra could be natural candidates—especially since the engine was designed from the outset to meet modern emissions standards through hybridization. This would help amortize the development costs across platforms.

"Yeah, [it] could be [installed in a LandCruiser]. [It's] possible," the Toyota executive was quoted as saying.

If Ford, Ram, and GM are all able to offer full-size truck shoppers a V8 motivator, why can't Toyota? The same goes for large SUVs like the Durango, Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade. A V8 is almost necessary for conquest sales in that segment. The Tundra and Sequoia both used versions of Toyota's 5.7L V8 before the aging V8 was phased out in 2022 in favor of a hybridized twin-turbo V6.

Naturally, if we're talking about the Land Cruiser and Sequoia, a hybrid V8 could also find its way into Lexus’s larger SUVs, including future versions of the GX and LX. Of course, it's important to keep in mind that just because the engine could fit doesn't mean Toyota is going to offer it.

The new V8 will make its production debut in the upcoming Lexus Sport Coupe, and is expected to power the Toyota GR GT, set to premiere on December 4. Engineers are said to be targeting more than 900 horsepower for hybrid configurations, while the standalone turbo-four could produce upwards of 400 hp.

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