The B gear in the Corolla Hybrid is the braking gear. However, this braking is not directly applied to the brake pedal but rather involves kinetic energy recovery, utilizing the engine to restrain the vehicle. It is typically used on continuous long downhill sections. In such situations, if you keep pressing the brake while driving downhill in D gear, almost all the braking pressure is borne by the brakes themselves. Prolonged use under these conditions can cause the brake pads to overheat, leading to brake failure. When shifted into B gear, the transmission is locked by a mechanism into low gears (1-2), allowing the vehicle to utilize engine braking in low gear. This relieves most of the pressure on the brakes. Many automatic transmission models are equipped with an L gear, which stands for 'low,' meaning low-speed gear. Driving in low gear maintains a lower gear position, enabling engine braking to reduce the vehicle's speed, thereby extending the transmission's service life. The function of the B gear is similar to that of the L gear. The B gear can also be used for starting on steep slopes, providing high torque at low speeds. The Corolla Hybrid is a hybrid vehicle equipped with a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower (Ps) of 98, a maximum power (kW) of 72, and a maximum torque (N·m) of 142. This engine is an Atkinson cycle engine paired with an E-CVT continuously variable transmission. The vehicle's dimensions are 4635mm in length, 1780mm in width, and 1455mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2700mm.
