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Toyota reveals hybrid sports car
15 January 2010
This is the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept - the clearest indication yet of Toyota's avowed intention to make its cars fun to drive again.
Unveiled at today's Tokyo Auto Salon, the two-seat, four-wheel drive hybrid is based on the outgoing MR2 platform, and is powered by a mid-mounted 3.3-litre V6 plus Toyota's THSII hybrid system. The net result is is 'more than 392bhp' according to Toyota.
See the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept spy pictures
The V6 drives the rear wheels, while the electric motor propels the fronts. It can drive in silent EV mode in the city, with the V6 firing up when called upon.
The car weighs 1500kg, and unofficial reports suggest it travels from 0-60mph in under 4.5sec.
Insiders suggest a car based around the concepts of the GRMN Sports Hybrid could go on sale as soon as 2011, and that some of the motivation behind putting such a car into production is to stop Honda's CR-Z - which has comparatively moderate performance - stealing the limelight as the world's first sports hybrid car.
GRMN stand for Gazoo Racing Master of Nurburgring. Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda races for the Gazoo Racing Team, including entering recent Nurburgring 24 Hour races at the wheel of a Lexus LFA.
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