Toyota has made a return to enthusiast’s radar and the automaker is working on some very interesting projects. Between unveiling the biggest concept car collection, creating a hydrogen-powered GR Yaris, co-developing a hydrogen-powered V-8 with Yamaha, and working on a manual transmission for EVs, Toyota is evolving from one of the most boring to one of the most exciting carmakers of late. Recently, another document got leaked from a dealer that reveals some interesting news about upcoming models in 2022.
Toyota's 2022 calendar so far
January – Toyota GR86
This one is old news, but we figured we’d mention it, for the record. The 2022 Toyota GR86 is on sale since January 2022. The car finally got the power it deserved while retaining normal aspiration. Its 2.4-liter flat-four puts out 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm). Most markets will enjoy the GR86 until 2025, but Europe will have it only for two years.
Read our full review on the Toyota GR86
April – Toyota BZ4X
One of the many concepts Toyota revealed in December 2021 was the Toyota BZ4X. The electric crossover goes on sale in April 2022. It is based on the e-TNGA platform, which Toyota co-developed with Subaru and features a twin-electric motor setup, allowing for all-wheel-drive capabilities. The EV crossover is expected to have a range of around 300 miles (380 km).
Read our full review on the Toyota BZ4X
June – Toyota BZ4X Global launch
This may be a bit confusing, especially when the dealer leak does not reveal all details, but it is believed that in April, the BZ4X will be on sale only in some markets, most likely with Japan being the first market to get it. June is largely believed to be the time when Toyota BZ4X will be available to the rest of the markets.
July – Toyota Sequoia goes on sale
The current Toyota Sequoia has been around for 14 years and a replacement was finally introduced in January 2021. The 2023 Toyota Sequoia will be built in the San Antonio plant, alongside the Toyota Tundra XK70 Series, and will feature a hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 and an electric motor between the engine and 10-speed automatic gearbox. Combined output is 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque (790 Nm).
Read our full review on the Toyota Sequoia
The final quarter of 2022 is where it gets interesting
October – Toyota Crown
October will see the new Toyota Crown making a debut. The fifth-generation of the flagship sedan came out in 2018, and now, an all-new, sixth-generation of the Crown is about to debut. While, initially, the Crown is going to debut only in Japan, Toyota trademarked the name Crown for the U.S., which is a sign that the next-generation Toyota Crown will be available in the U.S.
At this point, we don’t know how the upcoming Crown looks, but we have an idea of what engines it may have. There have been talks about a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, which is a part of a hybrid system, and although not yet confirmed, a 3.5-liter V-6 is also expected, also as part of a hybrid powertrain. More details are expected as the official debut nears. The first Toyota Crown came out in 1955 and it will be interesting to see what the latest successor would be like.
October – Toyota GR Corolla
The U.S. never got the homologation-special Toyota GR Yaris, but it will get the same engine and drivetrain on the GR Corolla. Toyota’s bigger hot hatchback was initially scheduled for 2021 but was delayed by about 12 months. According to the leaked documents, however, it’s going on sale in October 2022.
Gazoo Racing’s all-wheel-drive system will be paired with the same six-speed manual from the rally-bred GR Yaris. At this point, we don’t know whether the 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-three will come with the same 268 horsepower and 273 pound-feet (370 Nm) or it will pack a bit more power. Starting price for the GR Corolla is expected to be around $30,000.
Read our full review on the Toyota GR Corolla
November – Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
The Toyota Corolla Cross was announced last summer, and now, a hybrid version is on the way. The first high-riding Corolla will not offer the smaller 1.8-liter inline-four with 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet (171 Nm). The only confirmed engine option, for now, is the 2.0-liter inline-four with 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet (205 Nm), which will be a part of a hybrid setup.
The only gearbox option, confirmed at the moment, is the Direct Shift CVT. The Corolla Cross will also come with a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds (680 kg). Prices for the Toyota Corolla Cross start at $22,195 for the front-wheel-drive variant and $23,495 for the all-wheel-drive version.
Read our full review on the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Conclusion
The dealer leak that was presented by Driven District and later elaborated on by Kirk Kreifels suggests that Toyota continues with its dual strategy. This means that Toyota is continuing its expansion into the EV and hybrid segment, but also working on ways to preserve the internal combustion engines. The brand’s latest projects involving hydrogen, as well as its current performance models, all of which are gasoline-powered, suggest interesting times are ahead for Toyota.