Toyota GR confirms future sports cars hybrid plan

The Toyota turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine currently under development has been designed to be electrified

Toyota has been a pioneer in hybrid powertrains since its original debut in 1997. However, Japanese brands do not intend to retain electrification of mainstream products, but instead apply them to sports cars in the Toyota Gazoo Racing division.

The new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine currently under development will be used in the electric GR model. The factory’s design is compatible with hybrid and plug-in hybrid setups, and its shorter piston strokes and lightweight construction make it beneficial for packaging.

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The mid-sized GR Yaris M prototype, which debuted in Tokyo earlier this year, is considered a test bed for the next-generation MR2, installed in a new 2.0-liter powertrain in a non-electric form. However, Hiroyuki Yamada, a Gazoo racing engineer who is in charge of the project, confirmed plans to increase hybrid assistance in the future.

“We can use hybrids for future cars with this engine,” Yamada said in his speech at Autocar. He added that the technology will be used in racing events and passenger cars, as Toyota requires higher fuel engines and lower emissions to future GR products.

Currently, the GR Yaris and Gr Corolla are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, while the GR86 uses Subaru from a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter boxer. Replacing them with electrified turbocharger 2.0-liter units will allow Toyota to offer GR models in markets with stricter emission regulations such as Europe and the UK.

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The same 2.0-liter engine is expected to be used in future iterations of the Celica, MR2 and GR Supra, and in various adjustment states with and without hybrid aid. Reports show that the factory’s racing format can produce up to 395 hp (294 kW / 400 ps) and 592 hp (441 kW / 600 ps) racing formats. However, it is not clear whether these figures include potential improvements in the motor.

From Toyota GR lineup to mainstream models

In addition to sports cars and racing cars, the new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines developed by Gazoo racing engineers will eventually be used in traditional Toyota models such as the next-generation Yaris, Corolla and Rav4.

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Bart Eelen, head of TGR and Motorsports, confirmed the strategy. “This goes back to the way Toyota uses racing cars as a test bed and develop new things. I think this is something Akio Toyoda introduces to the company. Toyota never thought of it before.”

“New ice engines today are very rare, but we really want to do that. The block is super compact and the center of gravity is super low – the engine combines efficiency and performance.”

Hopefully Toyota will provide us with more details on the upcoming GR model soon, electrified or not.