Toyota GR BEV – Toyoda's Motorsport Legacy

Despite all the progress electric vehicles have made in recent years, a true, agile, and above all affordable sports car is, in Toyoda's eyes, not on the market. That might change now, as a report from the UK suggests that Toyota is working on an electric high-performance prototype.

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Akio Toyoda explained that he still plays an active role in the development of the electric sports car. After all, the motorsport enthusiast has personally piloted some of Toyota's race cars in long-distance and rally competitions around the world.

“The starting point is not what drive the car has, but how much fun it is to drive, regardless of that drive," Toyoda revealed. “I recently had the opportunity to test drive a BEV GR that we are working on. I don't know if this car will come to market, but the top priority in developing this type of car is that it is fun to drive, regardless of the drivetrain."

The driving experience is enhanced by engine sounds transmitted into the cabin and supported by an EV transmission and a three-pedal shift system. According to Toyoda, the driving sensation is extraordinary. The driver, who gets into the sports car and takes a few laps, is unable to discern which type of drivetrain the vehicle is equipped with.

Motorsport Sub-brand Gazoo

Toyota Gazoo Racing is a motorsport division of the Japanese automaker Toyota, founded in 1972 by Akio Toyoda as a junior executive in the family conglomerate. Gazoo dedicated itself entirely to motorsport and has been – and still is – very successful in rally and endurance racing. The company also experimented with race cars running on hydrogen combustion and other carbon-neutral alternatives, thereby nearly missing out on the shift to e-mobility.