The Toyota Motor Company has revealed 15 new concept vehicles for both Toyota and Lexus brands. Toyota finally committing to battery electric vehicles, there is a lot to unload from the announcement and the concept vehicles. However, there were few concepts in particular that caught our attention. A sports car stood out from the pack, which is called the Toyota Sports EV Concept. It is being suggested that it could result into the revival of the iconic Toyota MR2 mid-engine sports car. This is what we expect it to finally become.
What Is The Toyota Sports EV Concept?
Like all others, there is no official name given by Toyota for the concept vehicle. For the time being, it is simply known as the Toyota Sports EV Concept. Toyota refuses to release any information about any of the concepts but assures all will be revealed in due time.
As for now, all we have to go by are the styling of the concept. The Sports EV Concept uses a new design language found in the other concept models. However, in a taut, low-slung two-seat sports car design. The compact 2-seat sports car features the new C-shape LED DRLs that wrap around the sleek headlights and seemingly brake cooling vents. The front nose is low-slung and flanked by the highly pronounced wheel arches.
The rear angle is not visible, but some aero elements and an air intake behind the door are visible, featuring quite a neat design. The images also hint the car could be a convertible, and the passenger cell seems like it's front biased. That suggests it to be a mid-engined model. On close inspection, a ‘GR’ Gazoo Racing badge can be seen on the front nose, suggesting they will have a lot to do with the upcoming sports car.
What Can We Expect From The Toyota Sports EV Concept?
At this point, all we can do is speculate. It was recently reported that the Toyota MR2 could be in the pipelines with an internal combustion engine ICE in a collaborative effort with Suzuki and Daihatsu.
However, Forbes recently reported that a potential tie-up between Toyota and Lotus may be announced. The Forbes report seems more plausible now, with the all-electric Sports EV concept. Lotus and Toyota have been working together for a while. The Japanese automaker has been supplying the engines for its sports cars. With Toyota going electric, and Lotus also heading in that direction, the collaboration may continue.
The next-generation Lotus Elise would be an all-electric vehicle, but not feature a skateboard platform. Instead, it would feature a stack of batteries positioned behind the driver. It would allow for similar weight distribution as an ICE-powered mid-engined vehicle. Furthermore, it would allow the sports car to sit lower and have a sporty mid-engined shape. All of that would result in a Lotus signature feature – near perfect handling!
It is possible the two cars, the new Elise and the Sports EV (MR2) would be developed simultaneously.
Toyota Sports EV Concept: The Revival Of The MR2?
Toyota has been reviving some of its iconic badges from its legendary past. The GT86, now GR86, was a tribute to the AE86 Corolla Sport. The new GT86 was developed in conjunction with Subaru that also sells it as the Subaru BRZ, and both use a Subaru Boxer engine.
The Toyota Supra was resurrected after two decades. It was also developed in collaboration with BMW. The new Supra is now the sibling to the latest generation BMW Z4. They share nearly everything under the differently styled skin.
The last time the Toyota MR2 left the factory was back in 2007. Toyota pulled the plug on the sports car, in favor of the growing trend of more practical SUVs.
Sports cars might be the image automakers want their brands to have. However, because they are low volume models, it forces many automakers to collaboratively develop them with other manufacturers and share development costs.
If the track record is anything to go by, this Sports EV could just be a model that Toyota and Lotus develop something that benefits them both, and importantly, us enthusiasts.
If the Sports EV Concept is introduced as a revival of the MR2, enthusiasts around the world would applaud and welcome it with open arms. If the model is developed in collaboration with Lotus, we know it will most definitely be a monster on the track. Now that the boys at Gazoo Racing would also be involved in the development, given their resume features the new GR Yaris, we can't wait to see what the Sports EV Concept has in store.
Source: Toyota, Forbes