Car Fule

Toyota thinks big for the 100^th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The most famous endurance race in the world, which will take place on June 10 and 11, will see the Japanese brand shine both during the competition and in the paddocks.

For the occasion, in fact, the Toyota Gazoo Racing team will present an all-new concept which has just been announced by a first image.

A hydrogen sports car?

At the moment, we don’t know much about this prototype. The image only reveals a bumper, with two LED optics on each side, a large grille and aerodynamic elements positioned on the flanks.

The presence of the license plate suggests that it is a production model already existing or coming in the next few months. Since the Yaris, Corolla and Supra (as well as the GR86) already have GR versions, it could be the new Prius’s turn to take center stage.

His characteristics ? Same, we don’t know yet. Toyota merely indicates that the concept “will be equipped with a series of technologies developed during various motorsport championships around the world”.

However, there is a small clue. Indeed, in addition to the shape of the shield, very close to the new Prius, the presentation of the prototype is part of a series of events created by Toyota to celebrate carbon neutrality in Japan and which will take place during the race weekend. on the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Read also :
• Toyota wants to get into ultra luxury with its Century SUV
• Toyota unveils its new Grand Highlander
• Toyota: why is it still world number one in 2022?

A dead-end concept?

At the base of this hypothetical GR Prius concept, therefore, there could be a “clean” powertrain, possibly running on hydrogenone of the technologies that Toyota is working on.

The Japanese manufacturer has long used hydrogen as fuel for the thermal engines of certain racing cars such as the GR Corolla and the GR Yaris. The latter also participated in the Rally of Belgium 2022 with none other than Akio Toyoda at the wheel, the former director of Toyota and great craftsman of the GR range today.

Although the brand is also moving more and more towards electrics, it is also highly likely that it also wants to focus on this type of engine, even if no concrete application on a production car is planned for the moment.