“The Toyota EVs in the past I was not interested in,” said Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Company, who also mentioned the old Toyota RAV4 EV specifically in response to a press question. Hey now, one of those RAV4 EVs (there were three, in case you forgot) boasted Tesla power! But you get the idea Toyota is coming around to a new push for electric vehicles next to its longstanding favoritism toward hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Mr. Toyoda announced a new electric vehicle strategy that includes 30 EV models by 2030, ten of which will arrive by 2025.
Globally, Toyota looks to offer a full lineup of battery EVs in the passenger and commercial segments. However, those won’t be the only segments it will offer battery-powered vehicles. As Simon Humphries, Toyota Design Senior General Manager, said, “car fans like Akio Toyoda will certainly not be disappointed.” Enter this surprising sports car concept, which was revealed at a company function highlighting Toyota’s new EV push.
A Sports EV For Everyone?
After the yellow sports car was revealed, Humphries continued by saying, “The EV era is an opportunity, and a chance for more variety and more fun! An EV for you, an EV for me and an EV for everyone.”
Details on the Sports EV concept are less than sparse, so we don’t know what the sports car will even be called. (Its generic concept name is sure to go before this makes it to production—if it makes it there.) For now, it’s simply called the “Toyota Sports EV.” It is a stark contrast when compared to the two-door, sporty “Lexus Electrified Sport,” which was also revealed during the same Toyota EV media briefing.
The front lighting wraps around gaping front cooling openings while the overall vehicle shape is almost GR Supra-esque. You can see more Supra hints in the side windows. However, being electric and with most of its running gear slammed toward the pavement, the car takes on a very different character and looks more like a sports racer than a sports car. Its nose is far lower and more aerodynamically aggressive over the current Supra’s, and the proportions are less traditional. The physical model Toyota showed off also seems more diminutive, compared to the likely compact-class “Crossover EV” that it was photographed alongside.
Rear winglets are more visible on the concept’s studio photo, but they appear to sit low and just behind the rear wheel haunches on the physical model. The targa roof panel is shown removed in the concept image but the vehicle on display had its top on. The physical “Sports EV” also wears a Gazoo Racing “GR” badge on the lower fascia, denoting Toyota’s sports-car and performance division, whose name also adorns the Supra and new GR86 sports cars. It isn’t clear which of the EV’s wheels are powered, nor by what type of battery; power and weight are also mysteries.
Next-Generation Batteries
One major hint at what’s beneath the Sports EV’s skin can be found in the potential use of solid-state batteries for the Lexus Electrified Sport. About that model, Koji Sato of Lexus declared “Acceleration time will be in the low 2 second range, cruising range over 700 km, and with the possible use of solid-state batteries in mind, we will aim to create a truly high performance Battery EV.” Will this Toyota match those figures? Perhaps not, but then again…
Meanwhile, Toyoda mentioned that Toyota has been working on that and “other next-generation batteries” at Toyota’s Battery Research Division since 2008. If there is anything that will receive a lightweight but power dense battery package, it will be a small electric sports car such as this. Now, build it Toyota! Surely the MR2 name is laying around someplace waiting to be dusted off.
Keyword: Toyota Hints At Future Electric Sports Car—Wait, Really?!