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[vasia]

Interesting. I guess it's not a surprise that Toyota would equip the Highlander with the 2.7L engine, given current market conditions. Nice to see Toyota adapting to the market, instead of being ignorant of it. Combined with the 6 speed auto, it will have decent power and acceleration for the Highlander, not to mention most likely class-leading fuel economy. Both the Venza 2.7L and the Highlander 2.7L will be excellent in terms of fuel economy.

Sulu, Toyota would be crazy not to offer the 2.7L on the Highlander in Canada. You can count on it being in Canada. What trim(s) will it be offered on is another question though.

We finally have the numbers for the 2.7L, and they are interesting. I wonder if the 2.7L will be tuned differently in other vehicles or not. To compare both the 2.7L and 2.5L:

2AR-FE 2.5L (in Rav4):
179HP (6000 RPM) = 71.6 HP/L
172 lb-ft (4000 RPM) = 68.8 lb-ft/L

1AR-FE 2.7L (in Highlander):
187HP (5800 RPM) = 69.25 HP/L
186 lb-ft (4100 RPM) = 68.9 lb-ft/L

Torque numbers per liter are roughly the same on both engines, but notice the difference in HP. Clearly both engines are tuned somewhat differently. Using identical tuning, the 2.7L should be achieving 193HP. The 2.7L achieves peak HP at a lower RPM though than the 2.5L. Also unknown is whether the 2.5L in the Rav4 will use a dual exhaust manifold.

Numbers of course do not tell everything, and based on the wording from Toyota's press release, it seems to me the 2.7L in the Highlander will be tuned for exceptional low end torque delivery and an overall broad, flat torque curve. For the Highlander, it makes sense as it is much heavier than the Rav4. Tuning the 2.7L for exceptional low-end torque and an overall flat torque curve is the optimum strategy in this case, and will help the engine work less harder to move the Highlander, resulting in better refinement and fuel economy.

I also do believe the Camry will in-fact get the 2.7L. It seems that Toyota will pair the 2.7L with the 6 speed auto. Notice the 2.5L in the Rav4 does not get a 6 speed. If the Camry does in-fact get the 2.7L + 6 speed combo (which it seems likely) then it will be the rocket-ship of 4 cyl midsize sedans, and likely be the fuel economy leader as well.

As usual, Toyota quietly trumps the competition. Amidst growing criticism of the dated 2AZ engine, Toyota is now releasing not one, but two all-new 4 cyl engines to replace the 2AZ. The 2AZ served duty in a variety of vehicles. Having both the 1AR and 2AR to replace the 2AZ allows each engine to be more optimally tuned and tailored to specific vehicles.