A significant step in designing a hybrid sports car
was represented by the Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II, presented for the
first time in 2010. GRMN stands for GAZOO Racing tuned by Meister of
Nurburgring and was built in honor of Hiromu Naruse, Toyota’s chief test driver
who died in June 2010 in a LFA test car.
The Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II is
technically a modified version of the MR2 , a two-seat, mid-engined,
rear-wheel-drive sports car produced from 1984 until July 2007. The list of
upgrades made for the Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II includes an
aggressive body kit, more carbon fiber and the addition of a hybrid powertrain.
The vehicle sports a new 3.5 liter V6
engine, good for 247 hp. In a similar manner with the MR2, this petrol engine
is used to power the rear wheels. The big difference however, is represented by
the introduction of a electric motor, used to drive the front wheels and
powered by a battery pack mounted under the vehicle. Both powerplants work in
tandem and reward you with a total output of 300 hp which is enough to send you
to 100 km/h in less than five seconds.
The main point of the entire concept is the hybrid
all-wheel-drive system which it’s a big step further for Toyota, as it has the
potential to deliver better performances than a conventional two-wheel-drive
system, increasing the vehicle’s handling and stability at high speeds.
