According to a hot tip from Autocar, Toyota is using the delay of its FT-86 sportscar (top, right) to develop a larger “Supra” version, said to be hinted at by the FT-HS concept (bottom) and boasting a V6 hybrid drivetrain. A similar powerplant, based on the Highlander Hybrid system, was recently shown in a mid-engine MR2 evolution prototype (top, left). That model has apparently been approved for development, albeit with a 1.5 liter hybrid system, and aimed at Honda’s recently-released CR-Z. Which means that Toyota will go from offering nothing resembling a sportscar to selling two flavors of front-engine, rear-drive coupe and a mid-engine roadster. That’s what we call Moving Forward. Still, you have to wonder why these models weren’t released to take advantage of the LFA’s already-fading halo.
Please…please…please…do NOT bring the MR2 over as a hybrid! It’s bad that Honda screwed up in bringing the CR-Z in as a toothless and gutless shell of a car, and then had the nerve to name it something close to the CRX. Watering down the MR2 would be a travesty. I’ve owned two Mk1 MR2s and would truly hate to see them get softened up as a hybrid.
V-6?! Rubbish. Make it a proper I-6 and you’ll have my interest.
+1 with a turbo or two
The toyota v6 is used by Lotus – it’s a very good engine.
I never said it was bad, Im just nostalgic over the old supra’s turbo inline 6, and I would think it would be appropriate for a new supra to have it. Plus the inline 6 was built like a tank and dead reliable.
My money is on them bringing out the hybrid MR2 and sh*t-canning the Supra. Why? Because there are far more potential eco-chump customers than there are petrol heads.
I was excited until I saw the word “hybrid”.
I bet none of the above will happen aside from maybe a smaller sporty-looking hybrid.
Turbos? Mid-engine? Yeah right, come on this is Toyota we are talking about. The kings of bland that is currently trying to repair its damaged image with all kinds of “safety” talk. And nothing says safety like a turbo-charged, mid-engine, sports car.
The problem with the CR-Z (among other things) is the base engine is too weak. There is not wrong with hybrid part per say… remember the previous Accord Hybrid?
I own an mr2 mk1 and love it but the hybrid idea sounds good to me if it’s done well.
Electric motor = 100% torque at zero rpm.
Blend at midrange.
all engine awhile cruising.
could be beautiful if it’s raw enough.
Couldn’t they just strap a turbo on the engine for what it would cost to implement the hybrid system?
Toyota, with no real sports cars till recently (IS F) is now going to add a few more including the LFA?
Is the world ending?
IS-F is a sports car? Really? By what definition? A sports sedan maybe …
What would you call a BMW M3? “Sports car” is too broad in scope to gt pinickity and rule stuff out. Just compare the IS-F to the IS and then it’s easy to call it a sports car. Some people would call the SC430 a sports car, not that it was particularly fast or nice handling. Under those terms, it’s just an image thing. i.e. “Sports car = definitely not a soccer mom wagon”.