The era of environmentally friendly vehicles is getting closer to reality, as various technologies are offered by both two-wheel and four-wheel motor vehicle manufacturers. The law on Acceleration of Battery Electric Vehicle-Based Motor Vehicle Program for Road Transportation in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 55 of 2019 encourages motor vehicle manufacturers to begin directing the transportation industry towards using battery technology. However, in the midst of efforts to accelerate battery-based vehicle technology, issues of battery charging infrastructure availability and battery manufacturing resources are still under development. The industry must prepare battery-based vehicles that are suitable for existing infrastructure and the purchasing power of society.

The hybrid electric vehicle technology, which combines electric power and an internal combustion engine (ICE), was invented by Ferdinand Porsche in 1899 and was then known as the Lohner-Porsche Mixte system. This system utilized a gasoline engine to supply power to the electric motor, which then drove the front wheels of the motor vehicle. In 1990, General Motors and Toyota reintroduced this technology, with each producing the GM EV1 and Toyota RAV 4 EV, respectively, but it was not successful in the market. In 1997, Toyota successfully introduced the Toyota Prius, which was well received by the market. This success was followed by other motor vehicle manufacturers, such as Honda releasing the Honda Insight and Chevrolet releasing the Volt. In 2023, Toyota released a hybrid vehicle specifically designed for the Indonesian market, the Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid. This vehicle can be considered the key to opening the era of environmentally friendly technology in Indonesia, as the Innova is one of the flagship automotive businesses of Toyota in Indonesia. The release of the Toyota Innova Zenix indirectly educates the Indonesian public about environmentally friendly vehicles while promoting their effectiveness and efficiency while still providing optimal driving performance and quality.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Powertrain

The All-New Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid EV is equipped with a Series-Parallel hybrid (or Power-Split hybrid) powertrain that comprises a 2-liter gasoline engine and a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electric motor. The battery for this car's electric motor comes with an 8-year or 160,000km warranty. The All-New Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid EV is equipped with a Series-Parallel hybrid (or Power-Split hybrid) powertrain that comprises a 2-liter gasoline engine and a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electric motor. The battery for this car's electric motor comes with an 8-year or 160,000km warranty.

Table 1. Gasoline Engine Specification of All-new Toyota Innova Zenix

Engine Maximum Output
Power Torque
Gasoline Internal Combustion Engine 152 PS @ 6000 Rpm 187 Nm
Electric Motor 113 PS 206 Nm
Combined 186 PS
Engine Code M20A-FXS
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 Litres
Battery 6,5-Ah (Ampere Hour) Nickel Metal Hydride
Transmission Type e-CVT

How does this car’s Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain works?

  • When this car is moving at low speed or slowing down, the electric motor moves this car’s front wheels
  • When this car is moving with high speed, the gasoline engine moves this car’s front wheels
  • When this car is accelerating, both the gasoline engine and the electric motor moves this car’s front wheels, in order to make the car able to accelerate quickly and to produce more power & output
  • This car’s electric motor’s battery is charged by the gasoline engine and also by regenerative braking

New Gasoline Engine (G gasoline and V Gasoline variants)

The All-New Innova Zenix Gasoline variant has a new 2-litre Gasoline engine with M20A-FKS Code that is also used in Toyota Voxy 2022-2023 model in Indonesia. This new Engine is much more Powerful and Fuel Efficient than the 2-litre 1TR-FE gasoline engine that is used in the previous Toyota Innova model.

Table 2. Comparison berween M20A-FKS and 1TR-FE Engine

M20A-FKS (Innova Zenix) 1TR-FE Dual VVT-i (Previous Innova)
Maximum Power 174 PS @ 6600 Rpm 139 PS @5600 Rpm
Maximum Torque 205 Nm @4500 - 4900 Rpm 183 Nm @ 4000 Rpm
Fuel Tank 52 Litres 55 Litres
Transmission Type CVT 6 Speed Torque Convertor Automatic Transmission

New Front Wheel drive Platform

Unlike Previous Toyota Innovas that use a Rear wheel drive and Ladder Frame platform, The All-New Innova Zenix uses a Front wheel drive and monocoque platform. The All-New Innova Zenix is based on the TNGA-C Platform (TNGA stands for Toyota New Global Architecture).

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

Talking About ADAS Safety Features, The All-New Innova Zenix Q Hybrid variant is equipped with:

  • Adaptive Cruise Control that works between 0 until 180 km/h. This Feature detects the vehicle in front of the Innova Zenix and follows within a safe distance in order to reduce the fatigue of long driving, especially in highways
  • Automatic High Beam. If there is another vehicle that is facing / passing by this car or in front of this car, this car’s headlamp uses low beam mode. If Not, this car uses high beam mode for better visibility
  • Blind spot monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Lane departure warning and Lane Tracing Assist. This Car can detect road markings. If the system detects that this car is about to leave the lane without turning signal, there is an audio and visual notice and the steering wheel returns the car to the correct lane
  • Pre collision system and Automatic emergency braking. If this car is close to the object in front of it, there is an audio and visual notice. If the car gets too close and braking is needed to avoid an accident, the car brakes by itself.

New Features that are not available in previous Toyota Innova models

  • Electric Parking brake and Auto Brake Hold (All Variants)
  • Panoramic Roof (V Hybrid and Q Hybrid Variants)
  • Power Tailgate with Voice Command. By Saying “Hi Innova, Open / Close the door”, The Tailgate opens or closes (if the car’s key is near the tailgate, and this feature is only available in Q hybrid variant)
  • For the Second Row in the Q Hybrid variant, there are Two Captain Seats with Ottoman leg support. These Captain Seats are equipped with Electric adjustment for the Ottoman leg support and Reclining adjustment, but the Sliding adjustment is manual
  • Wireless Smartphone Charging (Q Hybrid variant)
  • Two 10-inch entertainment screens in the second row (they are located behind the first row seats, Available in V and Q Variants)
  • Around View Monitor with Four cameras (Q Hybrid variants).

Variants and Price

  • G Gasoline: 419 million Rupiah
  • G Hybrid: 458 million Rupiah
  • V Gasoline: 467 million Rupiah
  • V Hybrid: 522 million Rupiah
  • V Hybrid modellista: 532 million Rupiah
  • Q Hybrid: 601 million Rupiah
  • Q Hybrid modellista: 611 million Rupiah

Note: The written prices above are for Greater Jakarta Area per February 2023.

References

  • https://www.toyota.astra.co.id/sites/default/files/2022-11/brochures/Catalog%20All%20New%20Kijang%20Innova%20Zenix%20%2821%20Nov%29_1.pdf
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20210225021349/https://www.toyota.astra.co.id/product/kijang-innova/features/specification
  • https://www.toyota.astra.co.id/product/kijang-innova-zenix-hybrid-ev/features/specification
  • https://www.toyota.astra.co.id/product/kijang-innova-zenix/features/specification
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsBFbu7wlDY