Toyota is eyeing a return to the world’s most famous endurance race, the French 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a hybrid race car: a first in the race’s 84-year history. “We want to enter when we are confident of victory,” said to Kazuo Okamoto, who heads up the company’s research and development department. Such an attitude certainly fits in with the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” approach, as racing has been proven to test and improve technology that will trickle down to street cars customers can buy, not to mention boosting Toyota’s “green” image.
The Japanese auto giant has not announced when it will return to
Last year, a Toyota Supra hybrid won Japan’s 24-hour endurance race, the Tokachi 24, though Okamoto is quick to downplay that accomplishment: “The Tokachi means nothing,” he said. “Our goal is a step higher.”
Okamoto went to say the company will introduce high-tech hybrid technology in street cars. “If you want to use hybrid systems in sports cars, you have to make cars lighter and more efficient,” he said.
Like LLN reported in January, the candidate most likely to represent Toyota in the 24 hour race will either be its Lexus LF-A or FT-HS, both sleek, sports car concepts with hybrid technology believed to be the Supra’s successors.
03/31, 10:40 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Diesel Audis vs Hybrid Toyotas: I wonder who’s going to be first in with a fuel cell?
03/31, 11:25 AM
posted by:
Kenny W
The Audi’s wouldn’t be competing in the same class as the Toyota entry. The Audi is P1, while the Toyota would most likely be GT2 or GT1. I know nothing about the Supra that raced last year though, so perhaps someone with more knowledge can chime in. As a side note though Peugeot also has a diesel entry in the P1 class.
03/31, 3:38 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
I dare them to compete in GT1. The Corvettes will rip them a new one.
03/31, 5:14 PM
posted by:
FordTaurusForever
This is the right attitude to have unfortunately Ford, GM, and Chrysler have to be dragged around by the nose first before doing something about it.
Toyota takes the environment seriously so they come out with what a sensible sports car. Nothing wrong in that. As a matter of fact I think that’s awesome. And Z06Redneckified yeah I’ll bet. And I’ll bet ya that the Toyota will rip the Corvette right off the track when they’re ready to compete! GM is still fighting over whether excessive CO2 exist and Global Warming is for real. Listen I think this about Global warming I have’nt studied it extensively. As far as I’m concerned I’m leaning toward that it does exist – with some scientific fact shown. As for the those that want to label and say their is NO Global warming prove it with facts and then you can talk.
I’d like to really see a Twin-Force Hybrid Option on the up coming Ford Taurus Sho for 2010 is what I’d like to see. But hey if Ford can’t get with the program then maybe this Toyota would do fine. Forget GM. hahahahahaaha
03/31, 6:16 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
FordTaursForever-The Taurus SHO was a piece of crap, I saw a Cobalt SS race a Taurus SHO and destroy it. I too dare Toyota to enter anything in the GT1 class because I don’t care how eco-friendly or fast the Toyota HT-S concept was, good luck getting more then 400hp out of a hybrid, the only fuel that’s showing real promise is either diesel or ethanol. Notice why the Corvette C6R is pretty much the only car in GT1? That’s because since 1999 the C6R has been OWNING GT1!
03/31, 10:47 PM
posted by:
FordTaurusForever
Hmmm Need4Morebrain is exactly my sentiment toward you sir since you are bereft of reason and have no real brain to think with! I mean the last year Dummy that Ford made the Taurus SHO was 1998 and you want to compare it to a car that is brand new 10 years a decade later-the 2008 Cobalt are you for real.
BTW the cobalt is nothing more than the piece of crap warmed over Cavalier how gay.
But don’t worry Ford is heating up a special Verve GT with the Twin-Force 4 cylinder churning out Hmm approximately 25 to 35 more Horsepower than you gay Chevette lol–oh sorry Cobalt same difference! 285 to 295 HP for the little Guy and then if you want to compare it to the avg Taurus reg Twin Force 340 Hp or the 415 HP than should Dust you and your G8 GTX as well. All you’ll see are my tail lights as I pull out of sight!
04/01, 4:20 AM
posted by:
WEKS
“good luck getting more then 400hp out of a hybrid, the only fuel that’s showing real promise is either diesel or ethanol. ”
It’s sound like you think hybrid is some kind of fuel? No you idiot, a hybrid means it has a fuel based engine (that can be gasoline, diesel or even ethanol based) working in conjunction with a electric engine. For example that hybrid Supra mentioned in the article was running a 480 brake horses V8 engine (protip: 480 > 400).
04/01, 9:44 AM
posted by:
FordTaurusForever
Another Dummy that does’nt get it. Listen anything more sensible than adding to greenhouse gases you moron is not acceptable ok. Furthermore Diesel is not environmentally friendly you Dolt. And soon we will have plenty of Electrics that are way faster and more efficient that any Internal Combustion piece of crap ok. Now top that.
04/01, 10:29 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Wow lol ok THIS IS FORD we’re talking about you know? The Company that’s about to tank? Ford isn’t bringing the Verve here we’re stuck with the POS Focus cough (escort) and Ford would never offer anything like that here in the U.S they’re too stupid to. And the Twin-force technology pumping out that kind of HP??? I’ll believe when I see and and trust me the only vehicles that Eco-boost is going to be making it into will be Ford or Lincoln’s larger vehicles, Ford won’t put it in anything smaller than a Fusion. Oh and you’re right I shouldn’t have compared a Cobalt to a 98 Ford Taurus, a Grand Prix GTP would have killed a Taurus SHO too.
04/02, 11:14 AM
posted by:
FordTaurusForever
NeedForSpeed another one that does’nt bother to read up into the post. Hey Need for a new Brain. I convered the so called matchup with an OUT of Date Taurus SHO and the 10 years newer Cobalt but obviously you don’t read do you!
ok but for argument sake, back in the 1980’s and or 90’s then the Best that GM had in Compact or Midsized cars was making an Anemic Horsepower Rating.
Are you old enough to ready the pile-O’Junk Chevy Monza a complete POS. Now if memory serves correctly if you drove cars in the 80’s you know. the Monza used two 4-cylinder engines one that generated a whopping 78 horsepower or the other at generated 87 horsepower. I mean if you got a car that generated even 110 HP that was alot back then that no lie. Ask anyone if you were just a baby. So your comparison to the SHO is irrelevant since back then a SHO OWNED anything on the road with 220 to 235 HP. Today your considered underpowered if you have less than 260 HP so it just goes to show you that you sir don’t know what your talking about.
And you obviously have’nt seem that Ford is coming out with a Brand new Taurus or the fact that the Base engine will be a 340HP 340FT-Torque Twin Force-All Aluminum Block V-6 in the Lincoln MKS. Variants have already been scaled to 415 HP. So what do you think that does to the V-8 Powered G8 GTP idiot (get it right!) Ford cruises to victory. Although if Gas prices get much higher Ford may want to consider an ALL Electric Taurus SHO. And that thought is not too far fetched either since 700 HP electrics have already been produced. Unfortunately the cost is astronomical. Ford if you get the secret to cheap high powered and safe battery technology build it!
Yes the Verve is coming to the US you have’nt read what Mulally is bring not only over the Atlantic but the world. have you. No. How many times have I told you McNeed4SSpeed I don’t want to see you in here.
Now This is gonna cost ya. What do you have on ya. signed Biff