Autoblog

Gazoo Racing teases Toyota GT86-based concept for Tokyo Auto Salon

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon will welcome a Toyota GT86 (known here as the Scion FR-S) tuned by Gazoo Racing, said to be called the GRMN Sports FR Concept Platinum. We only get the briefest of teasers right now before the show begins on January 11, so we don't have much to go on beyond a unique lower front fascia and headlight treatment, a hood with at least one scoop, and a giant wing with unique LED taillights out back.

Assuming this coupe is a further development of the GRMN Sports FR Concept from earlier in 2012, it will likewise use a twin-charged version of the 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder and put out something like 330 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. We'll get the rest of the skinny in about two weeks, so for now, there's a gallery of other teased angles above.

Gazoo Racing teases Toyota GT86-based concept for Tokyo Auto Salon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Supra successor back in the cards?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:14:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Toyota, Rumormill

Motor Trend reports Toyota may have plans to resurrect the Supra name, or at least a new sports coupe to fill the role of the long-dead two door. Hot on the heels of sports cars like the Lexus LFA and Scion FR-S, designers are reportedly working on dusting off the 2007 FT-HS Concept for another go at life. Paired with the company's GRMN MRS prototype chassis, the vehicle will likely deliver up to 400 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an electric motor.

If the notion of a hybrid Supra is enough to ruffle your feathers, you may want to stop reading right now. Unlike the previous sports coupe, the new model will make use of an all-wheel-drive system. Still reading? MT reports the machine will put power to all four wheels via a CVT pulled from the Lexus RX.

That noise? It's the sound of a lonely sad trombone echoing down the halls of the internet.

Of course, all of this seems to be little more than a few educated guesses stuck together. Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has voiced his support for a Supra successor in the past, and if green-lit, the model could see production by 2015. Early guesses say the car would bow with a $60,000 price tag, which would make for a perfect argument against sticking a new NSX in your garage.

Toyota Supra successor back in the cards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 May 2012 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota getting help from Gazoo Racing to bring downsized turbo engines to market

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: China, Europe, Technology, Toyota

According to a report by TheDetroitBureau.com, Toyota is teaming up with Gazoo Razing (full name: Gazoo Racing Masters of Nürburgring) to kickstart development and retail rollout of small-displacement, turbocharged engines. While Toyota is the undisputed leader in hybrid sales, the 274,927 gas-electric vehicles sold in 2011 - that's in total, not just the Prius - still represent a tiny portion of overall sales. By contrast, the EcoBoost-equipped Ford F-150 alone sold 100,000 units last year.

Direct injection and updated transmissions are also said to be developmental hot-buttons for Toyota. The first boosted, DI motors could be seen as soon as next year in Japan, then find their way into products for China and Europe. Outside analysts expect America to be in that pipeline somewhere, eventually, with mooted options for introduction being the next-generation Corolla or, even easier, as an added powertrain option for the new Camry.

The direction is not meant to take away from Toyota's hybrid position and expansion in the U.S., with the company still expected to put hybrids in "for just about everything we offer." Overseas, though, hybrids made the same impression as in the States, which could explain the initial markets chosen for Toyota's new tech.

Toyota getting help from Gazoo Racing to bring downsized turbo engines to market originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota to reveal GRMN Hybrid concept at Nürburgring 24

Zach Bowman — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Hybrid, Europe, Technology, Toyota

Toyota GRMN Hybrid Concept II - Click above for high-res image

Toyota is set to pull the sheets back on a new convertible sports hybrid at this year's Nurburgring 24-Hour endurance race. Co-developed by Gazoo Racing, the GRMN Hybrid Concept II is a slightly updated version of the concept that Toyota displayed at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon.

With its gasoline engine mounted mid-ship and a hybrid all-wheel-drive system, the GRMN should deliver drivers plenty of grip and excellent balance as well. Total combined output sits at 295 horsepower, with 245 ponies coming from the gasoline V6 and another 50 arriving via an electric motor. That motor supplies power to the two front wheels only.

The automaker says the machine weighs in at less than 3,300 lbs, though there's no indication as to what sort of fuel economy to expect from the drop-head. So, when can you buy one? We wouldn't hold our breath. With its wild looks and pricey all-wheel-drive system, it'll be a cold day in Toyota City before the GRMN lands on dealer lots. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Toyota to reveal GRMN Hybrid concept at Nürburgring 24

Toyota to reveal GRMN Hybrid concept at Nürburgring 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept headlines TMC's Tokyo Auto Salon roster

Noah Joseph — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Japan, Hatchback, Lexus, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon, Racing

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept - Click above for high-res image

SEMA may take the proverbial cake for the American tuner scene, but the Vegas expo isn't the only tuner show in the world. And with the Tokyo Auto Salon currently underway, Toyota has a wide variety of cars on display under various labels and divisions.

The vehicle you see above is the GRMN iQ Racing Concept. Lest you think the four letters indicate some kind of special nav system, it stands for Gazoo Racing tuned by MN - the same outfit that prepared the Nürburgring 24-winning Lexus LFA racer.

Little in the way of details were released along with the solitary image other than to say that it's based on a limited-edition model that's already sold out, and fitted with a roll cage and supercharger. It's one of seventeen vehicles prepared by the Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiaries for the show, including versions of the Prius, Vitz (aka Yaris), Auris, Corolla, Noah, FJ Cruiser, Ractis, Lexus CT and IS F and more, modified by Gazoo, Toyota Racing Development, G Sports and even the Fuji Speedway and a staff collective known as the Toyota Engineering Society. Read all about it in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept headlines TMC's Tokyo Auto Salon roster

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept headlines TMC's Tokyo Auto Salon roster originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota plans budget sports car line

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota

Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Akio Toyoda may want to bring driving excitement back to Toyota, but he and his team have two major hurdles to overcome: The brands's limited enthusiast base and the fact that Japan's youth have very little interest in cars.

To combat both fronts, Toyota plans to launch a new line of budget-oriented vehicles that offer a modicum of sport. But so far, things don't look too promising.

Despite debuting an FT-86-based concept at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota's G Sports line of products have mainly focused on the Voxy and Noah minivans, while a "sports" version of the Prius is apparently in the works.

More interestingly, the Mainichi Daily News reports that a version of the GRMN sports car concept has been given the greenlight, meaning a mid-engined hybrid successor to the MR2 is in the works.

All these developments come after Toyota established a sports vehicle management division in January, which now has a hand in the brand's overall product planning. We should get a look at the fruits of their labors during next year's auto show season and could see this new breed of budget sports vehicles on the market - at least in Japan - within the next few years.

Gallery: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid

[Source: Mainchi Daily News]

Report: Toyota plans budget sports car line originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota considering RWD hatch to commemorate Naruse

Zach Bowman — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Budget, Performance, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota, Rumormill

We see plenty of rumors crop up on the interwebs, but we've rarely wanted any of them to come true as badly as this particular juicy morsel. The crew at Autocar reports that Toyota wants to build a new model to honor its former chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse. Naruse recently passed away in an a collision while testing the Lexus LFA at the Nürburgring. If the whispers are true, the car won't be a badge-job for the Camry. According to reports, Naruse always wanted to see Toyota produce an inexpensive, rear-wheel drive coupe that was affordable enough for the little guys of the world to be able to hop into the driver's seat.

If you're thinking there's no way that Toyota will suddenly jump into the small rear-wheel drive market with not one, but two new products, think again. Autocar reports that the inexpensive two-door will slot below the sexy FT-86 and will be based off of the GRMN Aigo Hot Hatch Concept we saw at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon. That particular concept got its grunt from a Daihatsu 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. More importantly, it rocked a double-wishbone rear suspension and swapped its front-wheel drive layout for a rear-driven arrangement. If the rumors are to be believed, we could see the car in 2012, just slightly ahead of the FT-86.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Toyota considering RWD hatch to commemorate Naruse originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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