It’s the Toyota Prius GR Edition – and it’s awesome!
As Toyota Gazoo Racing prepares to defend its 24 Hours of Le Mans crown this weekend in the 100th race, it has unveiled a radical Prius GR Edition concept car. The vehicle celebrates the significant contribution of motorsport in developing hybrid-electric road cars. Called the Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition concept, to […]
As Toyota Gazoo Racing prepares to defend its 24 Hours of Le Mans crown this weekend in the 100th race, it has unveiled a radical Prius GR Edition concept car.
The vehicle celebrates the significant contribution of motorsport in developing hybrid-electric road cars.
Called the Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition concept, to use its full title, it is based on the new Prius. It is also a tribute to the 24 hours of Le Mans race in which Toyota has competed with hybrid-electric race cars since 2012.
PRIUS GR EDITION: TELL US MORE
These images are clearly photoshop specials, but the actual car will be on show at an exhibit at Le Mans. The exhibit highlights vehicle electrification, hydrogen energy and the use of synthetic fuels. These all form part of Toyota’s multi-pathway solution to carbon neutrality.
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Toyota is aiming to extend its five-year winning streak at Le Mans with two GR010 Hybrid Le Mans race cars. This year’s running is the centennial edition of the famed 24-hour endurance race. A race that has been a showcase of automotive technology since the first ever race took place in 1923. It has been the crucible that pioneered road-relevant innovations ever since.
Toyota says, “Competing [at Le Mans] has enabled its engineers to develop ever-better hybrid-electric system technologies for its road-going production vehicles.”
RACING TECH FOR THE ROAD
Some of the noted advances include improved cooling, miniaturisation of inverters mounted directly on electric motors, and development of silicon carbide and high voltages for semiconductors.
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The Toyota Prius GR Edition concept car is 90 mm longer, 50 mm wider and sits 30 mm lower than a standard car with front and rear tracks widened by 40 mm. Visually inspired by the Toyota Hypercar, the Prius GR Edition concept is distinguished by multi-headlamps and a lightweight carbon-fibre bonnet, improved aerodynamics, including side skirts, canards, large rear wing, rear diffuser and a wide-track suspension set-up housing special 18-inch wheels wearing performance tyres.