Toyota Gazoo Racing Prioritizes Combustion Engines and Hybrid Technology

Toyota Gazoo Racing president confirms no immediate plans for performance EVs, focusing instead on advanced ICE and hybrid models to reduce carbon emissions. The potential for synthetic fuels remains under consideration.

Toyota has avoided launching electric performance models, focusing instead on refining combustion engine technology. Gazoo Racing (GR), Toyota's motorsport and sports car division, believes that internal combustion engines (ICE) still have a promising future. Investments continue in ICE technology for future models beyond the GR86, GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and GR Supra.

In an interview with Australian magazine Car Expert, Toyota Gazoo Racing president Tomoya Takahashi stated there are no current plans for a performance EV. Takahashi emphasized GR's intention "to use internal combustion engines as much as possible." He acknowledged a potential future ban on engines but clarified that "internal combustion engines aren't bad, the enemy is carbon."

This stance raises questions about the fate of the FT-Se, a concept car reminiscent of the MR2, which debuted in October 2023 at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo. The GR-branded sports car features dual motors, all-wheel drive with a rear bias, and impressive performance metrics, including a 0 to 62 mph time of three seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Despite these specifications, the FT-Se's production prospects remain uncertain.

In an interview with InsideEVs, Hideaki Iida, the project manager for the GR Design Group, indicated the FT-Se might enter production post-2026. However, it seems Toyota prioritizes developing fun, ICE-powered cars. Offering both gas and electric GR models would be advantageous.

While Toyota remains committed to ICE vehicles and has no immediate plans for pure EVs, a hybrid approach seems likely. Takahashi mentioned that "by using hybrid technology we can reduce carbon emissions" and did not dismiss the potential of synthetic fuels. Additionally, Toyota continues to explore hydrogen-powered combustion engines.

GR's current endeavors include considering a performance SUV and possibly introducing an automatic-equipped GR Corolla. Furthermore, Toyota's luxury brand Lexus plans to use the GR Corolla's three-cylinder 1.6-liter turbo engine in its upcoming LBZ concept, a small crossover expected to produce 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, although it won't be available in the United States.