What is a V8 engine doing in Toyota's latest hybrid explainer video?

      Toyota is gradually phasing out the V8 engine from its global lineup. The globally sold 300-Series Land Cruiser is exclusively V6, and even the Tundra no longer offers an eight-cylinder option. However, the Toyota V8 isn’t entirely gone; it appears unexpectedly in a video showcasing the plug-in hybrid system featured in the new RAV4. Could this indicate a forthcoming next-generation V8, or is it just an arbitrary selection without any deeper significance?

      The nearly five-minute video, titled “6th Generation 2.5L Plug-in Hybrid System,” provides an in-depth look at the sixth-generation plug-in hybrid technology of the 2026 RAV4. It follows a typical format for a marketing and technical video, but around the 12-second mark, a vehicle silhouette that unmistakably indicates a V8 engine is shown. The video asserts “an intuitive driving experience with powerful acceleration and responsive handling.” It’s clearly a V8, displaying the valves and pistons.

      Realistically, it’s likely just generic stock footage added to fill a few seconds. We cannot determine if the V8 depicted is one produced by Toyota or sourced from another manufacturer. It might simply be a stock asset that the production team had access to, possibly not even existing in reality. The video’s content isn’t ambiguous either; car manufacturers usually utilize various subtle methods to hint at a forthcoming engine or vehicle, and this isn’t typically one of those methods.

      But what if we’re mistaken? What if this is the subtlest of hints? There’s nothing suggesting that the RAV4 will feature a V8, yet there have been recent rumors of a new Toyota in the works with an eight-cylinder engine. Japanese magazine Best Car, known for either its incredible accuracy or glaring inaccuracies, asserts that a supercar developed as a sequel to the Lexus LFA, marketed as a standalone GR model, is set to debut by the end of 2025. According to its anonymous sources, it will be powered by a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 hybrid system, yielding approximately 900 horsepower.

      Would Toyota really give us a sneak peek of what could be its most thrilling model in over a decade through a corporate training-type video? We have our doubts, but it’s not out of the question. We must admit, the concept of a V8-powered GR-branded supercar excites us. We’ve reached out to the company for clarification about the mysterious V8, and we will update this story if we receive any new information. Until then, keep your fingers crossed.

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