Toyota's MR2 Based GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II gets its Motorshow Debut

Visitors at this week's 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will have the chance to see Toyota's MR2 roadster-based GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II in the flesh.

Developed by Toyota and its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing, the prototype made its debut at this year’s 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring in Germany.

For those of you wondering, "GRMN" is an acronym for “Gazoo Racing tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring,” the latter being a nickname for Toyota’s late test driver Hiromu Naruse who died in an accident last summer while driving a prototype of the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition.

The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is a development of last year's racing prototype that was based on production MR-2. The second iteration of Toyota's hybrid sports car features a brand new body while also improving upon the first concept on the powertrain front.

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Toyota Presents the Successor to Last Year’s MR2 Study with the New GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II

At last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota showcased a concept study of an all-wheel drive hybrid sports car (see here) loosely based on the now obsolete MR2 roadster, developed in partnership with Japan’s GAZOO Racing.

Now the time has come for Toyota to unwrap its successor in the form of the GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II that will receive both its public and racing debut at this weekend’s highly anticipated 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race in Germany.

The name “GRMN” stands for GAZOO Racing tuned by Meister of Nürburgring, in honor of the late Hiromu Naruse (1944-2010), the Toyota chief test driver and head of the GAZOO Racing team who died in an accident last summer driving a prototype of the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition in Germany.

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DragStar F1 Dragon is a Lesson in what not to do to a Toyota MR-2

Unless you take a peek at the interior, there's no way you'll be able to recognize the Toyota MR-2 hiding under the exaggerated Ferrari Testarossa-style strakes of this Japanese creation (or is that abomination?). Crafted by Value Progress, the Dragstar F1 Dragon is built on a third generation Toyota MR-2 and despite the extra-long nose, it keeps the donor car's mid-engine layout intact.

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Toyota MR2 Turned into Ferrari F430 Replica Showcased at Meeting Alongside the Real Thing

This isn't the first time we've seen a Toyota MR2 dressed up as something else, in this case a Ferrari F430 Spider, but the story here is that the owner of the replica took it to a classic / sports car meeting of some sorts in The Netherlands parking it close to the real Italian deal. Talk about having faith in your creation... See all the pictures after the break.

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Toyota MR2 Dressed Up as a Gumpert Apollo

We came across this Gumpert Apollo replica that's based on a second generation Toyota MR2 (1990-1999) on eBay. While the original mid-engined Apollo supercar gets an Audi-sourced 4.2-liter, twin-turbo V8 with 650HP or an insane 800HP in Sport form, the Toyota-based replica makes do with a modified version of the Japanese sports car's four-cylinder turbo engine, with the seller claiming it yields "255 WHP at 15psi and 303 WHP at around 19psi" on the dyno. Hit the 'read more' button below for the full image gallery.

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Toyota Unveils MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept, Combines 3.3-liter V6 and Electric Motor for 400HP

It may only be a concept for now, but Toyota's GRMN MR2 Sports Hybrid study that was unveiled today at the Tokyo Auto Salon may very well form the technological base for a similar production sports car in the very near future, according to reports from Japan.

Developed in cooperation with Toyota's racing and tuning partner Gazoo, the concept is a two-seater, all-wheel drive hybrid sports car based on a modified version of the platform used in the now obsolete MR2 roadster.

Underneath its widened body, the MR2 concept gets a mid-mounted 3.3-liter V6 petrol engine that drives the rear wheels and the company's THSII hybrid system with the electric motor propelling the front wheels.

The combined output of the hybrid system and petrol engine is estimated to be in the range of 400 horsepower

Power is transferred to the wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifts.

Toyota did not release any performance figures, but if you take into consideration that the 400HP plus roadster tips the scales at just 1,300 kg or 2,866 pounds (official data), this pocket rocket promises to be nothing less than fast.

Toyota to Revive MR2 as Hybrid Competitor to Honda CR-Z? Japanese Magazine Believes So

Ever since Honda announced the CR-Z hybrid sports coupe, there have been rumors going around about the possibility of a corresponding Toyota model. Just to make it clear, we haven't heard anything official, but Japan's Best Car magazine is reporting/speculating/imagining (take your pick) that Toyota may revive the MR2 as a hybrid model called the MR-S to compete with Honda's CR-Z coupe that will go on sale in 2010.

We'll have to wait until some of our Japanese-fluent readers give us all the details from the article, but from what we gather, the MR-S would probably use a specially developed version of the Toyota Prius' hybrid powertrain.

The magazine's article is accompanied by an artist's impression on how the MR-S could like. Judging by the air-inlets at the back, the proposed MR-S most likely features a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

If true, this would make the MR-S a sportier proposal than the front-wheel drive CR-Z.

As we said before, there's nothing official about the existence of such a model, but we can't say that it sounds improbable for Toyota to develop a second sports car after the FT-86, especially if it's a smaller, lightweight hybrid.

Source: Best Car

Toyota Official Reveals that a Hybrid replacement for the MR2 is in the works

More often than not, we wouldn't take rumors such as the revival of the MR2 too seriously, but in this case, we're obliged to take a different view. Why, may you ask? Well, simply because this time, the report comes straight from a Toyota official. Speaking with UK's Auto Express magazine at the Geneva Motor Show, Toyota's executive vice president Masatami Takimoto revealed that the company is already developing a small hybrid sports car that will essentially replace the long-gone, and much-missed, MR2 in the firm's line-up.

"We are aware of the fondness with which the MR2 is held in the UK and Europe, and are developing a small hybrid sports car," Masatami Takimoto told AE. "We have set a tough price point (expected to be around £20,000 - with the current exchange rates, US$28,000 or €21,000), as it will be easier to sell if it is affordable. It has to be fun to drive, too, which means the hybrid set-up must be different to the Prius's, with greater responsiveness."

Of course, we're thinking the same thing as you are; if Toyota is indeed readying a small hybrid sports car - and we have no reason to doubt Mr. Takimoto, then where does this leave the highly-anticipated, compact-sized rear-wheel drive coupe that the Japanese firm is co-developing with Subaru? Tough question to answer, but it could be that we're talking about two separate models.

One could also support that the two coupes (quite possibly, and roadsters) may also share the same platform, but in cases such as this it's better to avoid any speculations until we learn more details.

Via: Autoexpress

Eleanor's Hideous Twin: Toyota MR2 Based Ford Mustang Replica

If you're searching for a way to stand out from the mass for all the wrong reasons and at the same time, you don't mind dropping a few thousand bucks, then look no further; UK-based Ride Cars just might do the trick for you. This poorly recreated replica of the famous Eleanor Mustang, featured in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds", is based on the long-gone, mid-engined Toyota MR2.

The kit is available in either an assemble-it-yourself package for £3,995 (around $5,800) or partially assembled for £7,995 (approximately $11,700). These prices of course, do not include the cost of the donor car.

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Ride Car

Video: Transforming A Toyota MR2 Into A Ferrari F355 Replica

Over the past months we’ve shown you a ton of replicas –check out our latest posts here. Now it’s time to give you an idea of how it’s done thanks to a 6-min long video that “Charlieboyz101” uploaded on Youtube showing us via still pictures how he transformed a second generation Toyota MR2 into a stunning replica of a Ferrari F355. Just press play and enjoy the video accompanied by the sounds of Dire Straits.

Via: buscatuning