RideLust

Toyota MR2 Concept

There are rumors circulating that Toyota is contemplating a small, affordable, sporty hybrid to compete against a possible Honda CRZ Hybrid vehicle built on the Insight hybrid platform.  This new vehicle would logically be the resurrection of the MR2 name for Toyota and be constructed around the latest Prius Synergy Drive hybrid drivetrain. 

Honda CRZ Concept

While neither confirming or denying these reports, many close to Toyota development are speculating that the rear wheel drive hybrid could obtain 60 mph in less than 7 seconds while still achieving more than 50 mpg in fuel economy at around the $24,000 price range. 

Toyota vice president Masatami Takimoto has been quoted in the past as saying, “We are developing a small hybrid sports car.  It has to be fun to drive too, which means the hybrid set-up must be different than the Prius’s, with greater responsiveness.”  This vehicle, and a possible collaboration with Subaru to produce a sport coupe, are the first real performance-oriented cars to be considered for launch by Toyota since the Supra and Celica disappeared several years ago.