Jambalaya! Should Toyota Reincarnate The MR2 Into A 400HP Cayman Eater?

Jambalaya! Should Toyota Reincarnate The MR2 Into A 400HP Cayman Eater?
This is the MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept from Toyota’s almost-totally-official tuning outfit, Gazoo Racing.

We’d love to tell you that this means we’ll definitely see a new production Toyota MR2, but that might be going a bit far. However, it does mean that Toyota is at least thinking about a new MR2, which is a start.

Gazoo Racing is Toyota’s community website in Japan, and also operates as a race team: last year, it took the Lexus LF-A to the Nurburgring 24-hour race, with Akio Toyoda (Toyota’s CEO) and Hiromu Naruse (Toyota’s chief tester) on driving duties.

Which means we should pay attention when Gazoo creates a concept. Especially when it’s a reworked last-gen MR2 with a 3.3-litre V6 driving the rear wheels and an electric motor powering the front wheels.

So yeah, it’s a hybrid, but an interesting one: Gazoo pegs the MR2’s output at around 400bhp. With a kerbweight of 1300kg – a couple of hundred kilos heavier than the last-gen MR2 thanks to the hybrid’s batteries, but still light by current standards – it should be pretty rapid. We haven’t seen any performance figures yet, but you’re likely looking at a car that can show a Cayman S a clean pair of heels.


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Mason3RobertMason3Robert - 1/19/2010 5:02:17 PM
+2 Boost
This would be a monster.....


LexSucksLexSucks - 1/19/2010 5:04:50 PM
-2 Boost
No. Toyota shouldnt't create a 400hp MR2. A 400hp MR2 is a stark contrast to the current Toyota's, and wouldn't fly with the current toyota demographic. Who's gonna by it? Granny? Toyota first has to establish itself as a player with affordable fun to drive cars first. Not some one off exotic that no one can afford and is only available in limited numbers. Oh wait... They already done that with the LF-A.


WillisWillis - 1/19/2010 6:04:27 PM
0 Boost
"Who's gonna by it? Granny?"

Or grandpa.


Mason3RobertMason3Robert - 1/19/2010 5:24:26 PM
+4 Boost
Well maybe not 400hp but the older MR2 got up; it was pretty quick....maybe around 250hp @ about 2750 - 3000 lbs


NSXRNSXR - 1/19/2010 5:41:11 PM
+1 Boost
400hp would be sweet! It would need to break the mid 4 second 0-60 for me to seriously consider parking my X though...


lexworldlexworld - 1/19/2010 7:25:25 PM
0 Boost
Dude! Toyota is up to some serious intentions. Even if they dont bring the MR2 back you can bet they're probably secretly testing something or have been secretly testing something on that world re-knowned Fuji race track of theirs. By the way, the guy you see test driving that thing (above photo) is the same guy that was seen testing the LFA secretly for years along with his boss Mr. Akio Toyoda. Latest word is Toyota will bring 8 new models to the market over the next few years and those words come explicitly from Mr. Akio Toyoda who has vowed and said that he will bring back those fast, fun and affordable great cars that his company use to produce in the 80s and 90s. Man you could'nt pay me to remain an underdog!....."been there, done that"! I love winning and Toyota is a winner!


WillisWillis - 1/19/2010 9:54:57 PM
0 Boost
"I love winning and Toyota is a winner!"

Huh? Where? Never saw Toyota win anything in F1...


WillisWillis - 1/20/2010 10:07:56 AM
-1 Boost
The Camry and RX are number one in sales. So what?

The masses like boring cars that are great value and reliable. Other prefer excitement in their lives. Before I go touch a Camry I'd rather buy a Sonata or an Accord. Better looking, equally great value, just as reliable and far more fun to drive (presumably) than the Camry.


LexSucksLexSucks - 1/20/2010 5:42:15 PM
0 Boost
You are comparing an F1 car to street cars. LOL! Is that the only way that Toyota can win? How about comparing Toyota's F1 car vs Ferrari's F1 car? You already know the outcome, the Ferrari F1 car detroys the Toyota F1 car.


lexworldlexworld - 1/19/2010 8:03:38 PM
+1 Boost
Of course I could'nt tell ya what the heck happen in the F1 rings...Oh well, at least Toyotas still has mega-bucks and that's what it'll take to bring...or shall I say, let the games begin!


lexworldlexworld - 1/19/2010 8:09:11 PM
+4 Boost
I'm having too much fun here! Ever noticed that this site dont come alive until the Toyota or Lexus articles pop-up? Come on Joe_Limon I know you're out there!


0to600to60 - 1/19/2010 8:49:44 PM
+1 Boost
That and BMW


SteveSteve - 1/19/2010 11:30:08 PM
+3 Boost
I am weary of reading yet another arm-chair critic's opinion about what some car company "should do."

Those who can, do.
Those who can't, teach.
And those who can't teach, write junk about what others "should do".


M35MTM35MT - 1/20/2010 5:01:47 PM
+1 Boost
ah, yes...

Theory vs. Pratice =
Academia vs. Corporations =
Democrats vs. Republicans


lexworldlexworld - 1/19/2010 11:44:11 PM
-1 Boost
Steve, man you're bout as odd as the Audi R8 that was just given away to a valet parker.


JUGNUJUGNU - 1/20/2010 2:29:10 PM
+1 Boost
Maybe 400 BHP is total. Engine + Battery = 400BHP.

There was a Super Car in Dubai Motor Show called Kepler Motion. It also had similar power train. Tuned Ford's 3.5 V6 Ecoboost engine producing 550BHP powering the rear wheels and 250BHP net output batteries were powering the front wheels. Total 800BHP, Million dollar+ Super car good for 0-100 in under 2.5 seconds.

JUGNU


JUGNUJUGNU - 1/20/2010 10:21:36 PM
+2 Boost
Lexsucks

Toyota F1 car was much better than Ferrari F1 last year (2009). It was only the bad drivers who didn't deliver the results and Ferrari and Mclaren KERS system advantage which became too big around mid of the season. Even the top 2 teams, Brawn and RebBull were struggling to keep them behind. You also know Trulli is no match to Raikkonen and Hamilton but still Mclaren(71), Ferrari(70) and Toyota(59.5) were separated by only 11.5 points in the end.

In reality Toyota could have been like Honda, i mean Brawn. They only needed slight change in racing philosophy/leadership and a star driver unfortunately both quit when great results and championships seem to be closer. We know what happened with struggling Honda, now under the leadership of Ross Brawn went from last on the grid to World Champions. The same engineering people delivered results under different leadership.

Hopefully under the new leadership of Akio Toyoda, Toyota would become more sporty and also in near future when F1 would become more cost efficient, would re enter a team.

JUGNU


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/20/2010 10:36:28 PM
-1 Boost
lol you are blaming the driver, if it was as simple as hiring a competent driver Toyota would have done that years ago. Trust me, the car was crap compared to the competition.


lexworldlexworld - 1/21/2010 12:37:18 AM
+3 Boost
Joe_Limon there you are I knew I'd fine ya! By the way what kind of car or truck do you drive? Let me guest...a bankrupt Chrysler or a bankrupt Jeep, is that the photo you're showin us?


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/25/2010 12:14:10 AM
+1 Boost
look!! it's the LFA cabrio!
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