This year marks the 100th anniversary of the fabled Le Mans 24 Hours race and the multi-winning team of Toyota Gazoo Racing celebrates it with the reveal of a concept. The Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition is based on the fifth generation of the hybrid production model, featuring an extensive aerodynamic kit that makes it look ready for the track. The Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition features a redesigned front bumper with motorsport-derived multi-headlamps flanking a larger honeycomb intake. The front end also gets a pronounced splitter, two sets of canards, and a lighter carbon-fiber hood. The profile is characterized by the black fender flares, the side sill extensions, and the “Racing Hybrid” decals. Finally, the tail inherits a fixed rear wing, a wide diffuser, and rear fender extensions inspired by endurance racers.
The hybrid concept rides on a new set of
18-inch alloy wheels which are shod in 235/50R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.
It also gets a “wide-track” suspension set to improve its handling credentials.
Toyota Gazoo Racing didn’t mention any modifications to the hybrid powertrain
of the angry-looking Prius. Still, they claim that the concept “achieves
excellent driving performance due in part to its exclusive wheels and
performance aerodynamic parts inspired by TGR’s WEC-competing GR010 HYBRID”.
Toyota suggests that the Prius-based
concept “expresses gratitude to Le Mans and France’s Automobile Club de
l’Ouest”. While this makes it sound like a one-off, there are reports about an
upcoming GRMN variant of the Prius which could be inspired by the concept,
featuring increased power and a sharper chassis setup. The track-focused Prius
is exhibited at the Manufacturers’ Village next to the Le Mans 24 Hours track,
alongside a Mazda MX-30 R-EV with a range-extender rotary engine. The Toyota
concept will also be displayed at the WEC championship race in Fuji and other
events.
The exhibition at Le Mans is held by the
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in collaboration with Mazda and
Toyota Gazoo Racing. It is aimed to showcase motorsport-derived technologies
from Japanese automakers, featuring decorations by Japanese manga artist
Masahito Soda. It also focuses on communicating the goal of achieving a
carbon-neutral society through electrification, hydrogen, and carbon-neutral
fuels. Mazda was the first Japanese automaker to win Le Mans in 1991, while
Toyota Gazoo Racing went on a five-year winning streak between 2018 and 2022,
hoping to repeat the triumph in this year’s centennial race.
