Toyota plans to enter the 24-hour Le Mans in 2010 with a hybrid race car, company sources have reportedly said. The automaker has never won the annual race and has not competed since 1999. Since Toyota’s hybrid will be going up against Corvettes, Porsche 911s, and Aston Martins, one big question remains — what car will Toyota use?
“Audi demonstrated the excellence of new generation diesel-powered cars through the Le Mans race. We want to do the same with our hybrid model,” a Toyota official told Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun. Audi’s R10 TDI diesel race car remained undefeated in the American Le Mans Series from early 2006 to April 2007.
There are two possible hybrid sports cars in the works at Toyota. The safest bet is the Lexus LF-A, which Toyota executives publicly confirmed will be have hybrid variant.
Since the LF-A will be sold as a Lexus and not a Toyota, this might pose a problem. Which brings us to the second possibility — the FT-HS Hybrid, which is often viewed as a Supra successor. The latest rumors indicate this car will see production in 2009.
01/21, 10:03 AM
posted by:
Veda
It’d be funny if they actually win the race or comes second after Audi…
01/21, 10:14 AM
posted by:
autonut
I cant imagine the gas emanating from Lutz as he is reading this (at some pint he will read this or someone ought to tell him)
01/21, 10:24 AM
posted by:
broadrun96
Except that the hybrid system WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED on any car that would compete with the 911s by rule. The Toyota will be built as a TOYOTA, Lexus isn’t widely enough distributed yet worldwide, and not be badged/or built off of a street car as the hybrid system would only be allowed in LMP1 and so it would be a custom chassis like they did earlier with the GT-One. It would compete with Audi (prob no shot against the V12 TDI), Peugeot (bound to be better this year with some competition and time) and the newly announced Aston Martin in the top class at Le Mans which would be tough to break into even the podium. Unless Porsche, with their RS Spyder(one class down from Audi), Acura, with their ARX, and Corvette, like rumored, move up a class or two for the Vettes, Toyota may have a chance to at east get noticed, their old car still holds records for top speed and fastest lap.
01/21, 11:12 AM
posted by:
corvette
i’m interested in the millage of these cars. even though there hybrids how good can a 180-200mph hybrid be on millage?
01/21, 12:12 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Shouldn’t they just concentrate on trying to win one F1 race.
01/21, 12:33 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Chrysler tried to field a Hybrid for either LeMans P1 or P2 class about a decade ago. I think Toyota should be leaning it that direction. I’m not familiar with all the rules or how the Sanctioning body will look at Hybrids competing int GT1 or GT2 classes, otherwise I think someone else would have done it first. Maybe Honda.
At any rate, it’s seems a bit early to tell.
01/21, 2:04 PM
posted by:
autonut
corvette it is an interesting question. My guess that if the circuit will allow constant or near constant 180-200 mph the mileage would remain as efficient as gasoline/diesel engine can run. If circuit is variable speed then hybrid will have and advantage since electric motor(s) helps to accelerate not to maintain constant speed.
01/21, 2:45 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Swerve: exactly. Although they have been very quick in testing this winter.
01/21, 3:49 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
“Hybrids” and “pure electrics” are two different animals. Try not to get them confused.
And I would doubt a racing Hybrid would actually have batteries. It would have Capacitors which are lighter and would only need to carry enough charge for that punch out of turns. The car would still rely on it’s gas engine. The electric motors would be used only for acceleration.
01/21, 5:33 PM
posted by:
broadrun96
Blakkarr has one of the main ideas I have seen pushed and debated right on, the main benefit the hybrids would have is under braking, MUCH less wear on the pads, and then reuse that energy in launching off the corners. Not really a big thing at Le Mans itself with the high speeds but could be a big advantage if the car can be built light enough to meet the minimums or those pesky LMP2 cars will eat it up through the corners at some of the tighter tracks with sharper corners. Will definately make 2010 or so race season a fun time to be a sports car fan.
01/22, 11:40 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
I can’t wait to see Corvettes hand Toyota their asses on a platter. Audi will do the same to them. Diesel makes sense for this application, and Audi proved it. Hybrid electric doesn’t make sense for racing applications. Weight and complexity for marginal fuel efficiency improvments only under part throttle conditions (virtually none under full throttle conditions).
01/22, 3:52 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
I just can’t conceive of what Toyota even has to offer in Le Mans. Companies like Mazda, and Acura did a good job in entering LMP2 class cars, especially when they are using Lola or Courage chassis, and I think Toyota could also do this. But yeah what are they going to offer for a GT1 or GT2 class? A Camry Solara??? I’m sorry but they’re going to have to enter into one of the two Prototype classes because the Corvettes, DB9R’s, 911’s and F430’s would eat them alive.
01/22, 3:55 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
OH wait are they really serious about entering in a GT1 or GT2 class? Yeah the only thing they could offer would have to be the Lexus LF-A, and for one, it’s a Lexus and NOT a Toyota even though it’s a brand of Toyota, and two doesn’t the car being entered into the GT class have to be a production run model? This car is still in the concept phase. Is it even pre-production?