Reports out of Japan the new Toyota Prius could get the GR high-performance treatment may not be far-fetched after all, if a new teaser image of an upcoming concept car is a guide.
The Toyota Prius hybrid pioneer looks set to be in line for a high-performance Gazoo Racing makeover – at least in concept form.
Toyota has teased a new concept car due for unveiling between June 6 and 11 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, said to be “equipped with vehicle technologies that have been developed through numerous challenges in motorsports participation”.
The Japanese car giant does not name the car shown in the teaser photo, however it appears to be based on the latest iteration of the Prius not sold in Australia – the nameplate which led Toyota’s roll-out of hybrid technology two decades ago.
The curved black element at the upper edge of the concept’s front bumper matches the bar connecting the production Prius hybrid’s headlights – while the covers over the towing hooks are the same size, and in the same location.
MORE: 2023 Toyota GR Prius performance hybrid imagined
While few details are known about the concept, the extreme lower front bumper, large air intake and prominent fog lights suggests the Prius show car is in line for a major visual upgrade over the standard model.
It is unclear what will power the Gazoo Racing-branded Toyota Prius concept.
Some form of hybrid or plug-in hybrid power is highly likely – given the Prius is Toyota’s hybrid icon – but it remains to be seen what “vehicle technologies … developed through … motorsports participation” entails.
One option is “carbon-neutral” synthetic fuel, which is being developed on the premise the only CO2 being emitted by vehicles running the liquid is CO2 that was captured and removed from the environment in the production of the fuel, rather than new pollutants from burning petroleum.
The Prius concept could also run its traditional internal-combustion engine with hydrogen – in gas or liquid form.
Toyota has been developing both technologies in racing events in Japan; the synthetic fuel in a GR86 sports coupe, and hydrogen in a series of Corolla hatchbacks (below).
Both race-car prototypes are powered by versions of the turbocharged three-cylinder engine in the production GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches – but this engine is yet to be combined with hybrid technology in any application.
It comes as reports out of Japan claim a new generation of the Toyota GR86 coupe is already in development for a 2025 launch, swapping today’s 2.4-litre non-turbo four-cylinder for the 1.6-litre GR Yaris engine, aided by hybrid technology.
It is unclear if the GR Prius concept planned for unveiling next month will ever reach showrooms, or if it will remain a show car.
Respected Japanese magazine Best Car reported in January a high-performance GRMN version of the new Prius is in development for first Japanese showroom arrivals in late 2023 or early 2024.
GRMN – short for “Gazoo Racing, tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring” – is the highest tier of Toyota performance cars, and has historically been applied to hardcore limited editions.
Best Car reports the Prius GRMN (or GRMN Prius) will be based on the plug-in hybrid, which in standard form is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor good for 164kW, and 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds.
It is unclear if power and torque outputs will be increased, though Best Car says performance upgrades would come from the petrol engine as “it is difficult to increase the power of the [electric] motor”.
The publication says the model is due to gain additional body spot welds and adhesives for increased structural rigidity, upgraded brakes and suspension, and unique interior design touches.
Expect more details when the Toyota GR Prius concept is unveiled during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race weekend, from June 6 to 11.
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