Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota GR HV Sports Concept to be revealed

Following in the footsteps of the lightweight Toyota Sports 800 from the ‘60s, or the Toyota Supra which endured over 20 years of evolution, a new Toyota rear-driver is set to be revealed by the brand.

Set to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, it will feature a powertrain similar to that in the Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid which competes in the World Endurance Championship.

“The LED headlights, five-bolt wheels and rear diffuser evoke the components used on the hybrid-powered WEC racer,” Toyota said in a statement.

By ‘similar’, we assume (or hope) Toyota means that it will have a hybrid V6.

We also know that the Concept will be front-engined, and will have styling reminiscent of the Toyota 86.

The hybrid battery will be placed in the centre of the vehicle “for optimal front-rear balance and a low centre of gravity.”

The car will have an automatic gearbox which Toyota says can be used manually “at the press of a button, using a compact H-pattern gearshift.”

Unlike the Toyota 86, however, the GR HV Sports Concept will have only two seats, and a removable targa-top which Toyota says promotes “the fun of driving by combining the thrill of a sports car, a wind-in-the-hair "targa top" opening.”

Not that we can think of many targa-topped cars that aren’t advertised as sports cars.

The concept gets its ‘GR HV’ name from both the initials of the Gazoo Racing team, and the fact that it will be a hybrid vehicle.

Whether it will see the light of day as a production car, we don’t know, but Toyota does already have a hi-po hybrid V6 at its disposal. The LC500h drivetrain in an 86-like body?