Finally, the two Japanese automotive giants have decided to equip their premium mid-size sedans with a four cylinder turbocharged engine. Most of their rivals including Volkswagen Passat and Hyundai Sonata have a turbocharged four cylinder engine and these two companies were expected to soon release new engine for their vehicles.
Toyota Camry will get a 2.0 litre engine which might replace its V6 one. The turbocharged unit produces 235 bhp and 350 Nm of torque. These figures will be enough to power Camry which currently has a base engine of 2.4 litres which produces 178 bhp. It is still not confirmed whether the new engine will replace the base unit or the V6 one or all three will be available simultaneously.
Honda on the other hand has planned a smaller turbocharged engine for Accord. A 1.5 litre unit might replace the standard 2.4 litre naturally aspirated one. The latter produces 184 bhp and the new one is expected to match its power rating if not succeed it. Accord also had a 3.5 litre V6 option which has been currently discontinued in India. The V6 engine produced 275 bhp and 339 Nm of torque.
Though these two cars are the best sellers in their segment, lack of a turbo four engine was kind of handicap for their sales as people had started preferring the more powerful turbocharged engines on their rivals. With new engines, both these cars will be priced north of Rs. 20 lakhs if they get to India and might even break the Rs. 30 lakh barrier.
Vokswagen Passat is traded with a 1.8 litre turbo four engine in the international market. The petrol mill spins out 170 bhp. Hyundai Sonata is equipped with a bigger 2.0 litre turbo four engine which produces 245 bhp and 353 Nm of torque. These two cars were lately able edge ahead of the two best sellers because of their engine options but that advantage is no more.
