CarGuy
Vorsprung Visionary
Toyota has revealed the GRMN (Gazoo Racing Master of Nurburgring) Sports Hybrid Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Based on the MR-2, the concept is a four-wheel drive hybrid which uses a mid-mounted 3.3-liter V6 and Toyota's THSII hybrid system. At slow speeds, the concept is powered exclusively by an electric motor that turns the front wheels. When more gusto is required, the V6 kicks in to motivate the rear wheels. With more than 392 bhp (total), the 1500kg concept can likely accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds.
While nothing is official, Autocar is reporting Toyota may be working on a production sports car with a similar hybrid system. Intended to rival the Honda CR-Z, the unnamed vehicle could go on sale as early as 2011.
Back in November, the rumormill was set ablaze when reports began to surface that Toyota was working on a new MR2 packing hybrid power. Today, those rumors have been laid to rest... kinda.
In addition to the G Sport Series FT-86 and Prius, Toyota trotted out a concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon based on the third generation MR-S (ZZW30). Although the MR2 was nixed in the U.S. in 2005 (and in Japan in 2007), Toyota and its partners at Gazoo saw fit to resurrect its midship drop-top by fitting a 3.3-liter V6 where the old 1.8-liter four-cylinder used to reside and an electric motor mated to a THSII hybrid system up front. That's right, the MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept is all-wheel drive, and between the two mills, it's churning out over 400 horsepower through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
But despite its boosted output, the 2,800-pound concept is a bit on the porky side compared to its 2,200-pound predecessor. Toyota claims it can run to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds – still better than the stock ZZW30, but at what a cost to the MR2's supreme chuckability? While there's no chance of Toyota putting the MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept into production, this could point the way for things to come – for better or worse.
Autoblog
