GR HV Concept sports a Targa-style body, semi-electric know-how from endurance racing and an automatic gearbox with H-pattern manual shift.
Is Toyota planning a rival for that Targa-topped MX-5?
What you see here in official pictures is the Toyota GR HV Sports concept which will make its world premiere at this month’s Tokyo motor show alongside a slew of other show cars.
As its initials indicate, the design of the GR HV Sports has been inspired by Toyota Gazoo’s Racing TS050 hybrid racer, used in the World Endurance Championships. The two-seat concept sports a Targa-style roof (as in the classic Sports 800 and Supra sports car of yore), matte black exterior, LED lights, aluminium wheels and rear diffuser in the style of that TS050 racecar.
In some ways, it looks like a riposte to the Mazda MX-5 RF. But despite its common proportions with today’s 86 sports car, the GR HV Sports is said to be built on a different platform to accommodate the hybrid system.
What’s the hybrid like?
Toyota hasn’t delved into the details yet but only says the hybrid battery pack is neatly located in the middle of the car to optimise centre of gravity and weight distribution factors. The GR HV Sports is a conventional front-engine, rear-drive sports car.
A new gimmick in the GR HV Sports is the transmission whereby there’s a traditional H-pattern, six-speed manual shift (with the starter button located on the gear knob) in place of steering-mounted paddle-shifters.
Such a gearbox shouldn’t be confused with Saab’s Sensonic gearbox of the ’90s which had a manual gearstick but no clutch pedal. Toyota’s version is based on automatic know-how, thus explaining the buttons for P, R, D, N and M on the fascia in a similar fashion as Aston Martin’s automatic-equipped cars.
Will Toyota put the car into production?
It’s most likely that the GR HV Sports will remain a show car. However, Toyota is keen to stress that hybrid performance can form part of a sports car. To that end, Toyota could be hinting to hybrid power for its all-new Supra successor, mostly likely due next year.
Toyota’s next sports car will be developed together with the BMW Z4, although it’s reported that the former will be a only coupe and the latter just a convertible. The Supra revivor was first previewed in the FT-1 concept car three years ago.
