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Toyota's hybrid sports car

Green mid-engined drop-top boasts electric motors and V6 power

Toyota GRMN

By Sam Hardy

22nd June 2011

Is this a successor to the MR-2? Toyota will take the wraps off a new mid-engined hybrid convertible at the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race this weekend.

Called the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II, it may not have as catchy a name as the MR-2, but it's certainly not lacking in visual aggression – or outright punch.

Originally shown at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, this new version features far curvier and more cohesive bodywork while under the skin is an uprated hybrid system. The whole car has been developed by Gazoo Racing – the team behind the Lexus LF-A supercar.

It uses a four-wheel drive set-up with an electric motor at the front and a mid-mounted 245bhp 3.5-litre petrol V6 and another set of electric motors driving the rear wheels. Total power output is 295bhp and with a kerbweight of 1,500kg, the GRMN concept should be able to do 0-60mph in under six-seconds.

Toyota claims the hybrid AWD system improves manoeuvrability, increases driving enjoyment and provides enhanced stability. There are no plans to put this car on sale, but the firm says it will take lessons learned and apply them to its road cars. 

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7 Comments

Come on Toyota!

I'm like a kid in a sweet shop when I walk into a car dealership but walking into a Toyota showroom is like walking into a sweet shop that only sells brussel sprouts.

They need cars like the MR2 to counter the terminally dull reputation they now have since killing off that and the Celica.

By gavsmit on 22 June, 2011, 5:36pm

Wait a minute

Where's this come from? I've never seen this kind of machine before. It actually doesn't look that bad though.

By JPW2010 on 22 June, 2011, 7:12pm

GRMN?

Is this a trick? Is the GRMN actually a GeRMaN sports car?

By chickenfeed on 22 June, 2011, 11:22pm

Whatever happened to Marcos

This looks like something from the 80s

By aje21 on 23 June, 2011, 1:23pm

I agree with Gavsmit

Why are Toyota now so dull? The 80's and 90's we had the supra's, Celica's and MR-2's, now we get the IQ, Aygo, Auris, and a load of boring eco friendly cars that are actually rubbish on fuel for motorway driving. Does Toyota think we all drive only in town and want the most boring, bland cars possible?

Give us a reason to go in and purchase something sexy or when all the pensioners that currently buy your vehicles die off, you can forget anyone aged sub 40 keeping you at number your one spot!

By Focus_your_mind on 23 June, 2011, 4:18pm

That power train and performance sounds remarkably if not exactly like those of my Lexus RX450h...

By markstevenfall on 23 June, 2011, 10:44pm

Build it!

Toyota should build this. And the FT-86. And the FT-HS hybrid from a few years ago.

By lambo4099 on 1 July, 2011, 12:40pm

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