Toyota Gazoo Racing Pledges To Make Gas-Powered Sports Cars For As Long As Possible

While much of the automotive industry is scurrying to create exciting electric performance cars, Toyota Gazoo Racing is sticking with combustion engines, even for new models. Division President Tomoya Takahashi told Australian publication CarExpert that the automaker has zero plans for a battery-electric GR car. “We want to use internal combustion engines as much as possible,” said Takahashi. The current GR lineup in the United States comprises the GR Supra, the GR86, and the GR Corolla. None of them use electrification of any kind.

While there’s a concern that gas-powered engines will be outlawed someday, the GR President is adamant that Toyota will continue using ICE technology until that time comes. “There may be a time in the future when engines are banned, but internal combustion engines aren’t bad; the enemy is carbon,” he said, adding, “We are investing in future engines.”

Toyota

Toyota is a Japanese automaker founded in 1937 that has developed a reputation for reliability across a multitude of segments, from sports cars and family sedans to pickup trucks and off-roaders. Famous models from the brand include the Hilux, Land Cruiser, Camry, Crown, and Corolla, the latter being the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate, with more than 50 million Corolla-badged vehicles being sold since it was first introduced. Toyota typically competes in the mainstream market, but is also famous for launching Lexus as a luxury sub-brand to take on Mercedes-Benz.

Founded

August 28, 1937

Founder

Kiichiro Toyoda

Headquarters

Aichi, Japan

Owned By

Publicly Traded

Current CEO

Koji Sato

Hydrogen Combustion Engines A Real Possibility

Takahashi is likely referring to Toyota’s work with hydrogen-powered combustion engines. The automaker has been trialing the technology in motorsport for some time and is lined up to use a Yamaha-designed hydrogen-powered V8 with 450 horsepower. While the Japanese marque is happy to embrace all drivetrains – it currently offers hybrids, plug-in hybrids, EVs, and hydrogen fuel-cell cars – all of its performance vehicles are ICE-powered.

While he didn’t share any information about future products, Takahashi dropped a hint that GR models will adopt some form of electrification: “By using hybrid technology, we can reduce carbon emissions, and we can also use carbon-neutral fuels. We’re not sure about electrification and when it’s happening. Globally, there are discussions that cars won’t be all-electric.”

Multi-Faceted Approach To Electrification

Once condemned for openly sticking to a multi-faceted approach, Toyota’s strategy is starting to make sense as demand for electric vehicles cools down. Sales of EVs have declined, but hybrids and PHEVs are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, several brands, ranging from General Motors to Mercedes-Benz, have had to rethink their electrification plans, backtracking and offering PHEVs to meet customer needs – something Toyota said needs to happen: “Nobody can see 10 years into the future. Our direction is multi-pathway, not only EV.”

Hybrid-powered GR vehicles would allow the automaker to extract more power from its sports cars, reduce emissions, and improve fuel economy. And who better to do this than Toyota, arguably the pioneer of hybrid technology? But isn’t Toyota concerned that performance EVs will outclass its vehicles? No, said the president, with an answer to make a gearhead swoon: “Our target is not to make fast cars; it’s to make fun cars. There is a difference between a fast car and a good car. We want to make better cars.” That’s the kind of philosophy we like, and we hope more follow Toyota’s lead.

Source: CarExpert