Toyota could be eyeing its sports cars in its hybridization efforts
Toyota has been working on going hybrid for years now, and it looks like that strategy is still full steam ahead. The ever-popular Camry sedan was one of the more recent models to make the transition. As countries make their emissions regulations more stringent with each passing year, sports cars need to be more efficient or risk getting the ax. That’s exactly why the Japanese automaker is reportedly turning its hybridization efforts towards its lineup of GR-tuned models.
Toyota
Toyota is working on a new hybrid powertrain
Toyota’s GR sports car lineup isn’t going to get just any ol’ hybrid powertrain. The Japanese automaker is working on a brand new engine that combines the performance the GR line is known for with the efficiency of a hybrid. Not long ago, Toyota gave us a sneak peek at the new hybrid engine, which is based on a new turbocharged four-cylinder powerhouse.
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According to a report by Autocar, Toyota’s new hybrid powertrain made its debut in the GR Yaris M concept, replacing the hatchback’s turbocharged three-cylinder engine. As though this couldn’t get even more interesting, it came in the form of a mid-mounted 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The engine’s placement indicates that we could see a new mid-engined sports car wearing a Toyota badge in the near future.
“Hybrid systems are always a good solution for environmental cars, not just for passenger cars but for sporty cars as well,” Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s chief technology officer, told Autocar in 2023.
Toyota
The new hybrid powertrain can work in both traditional hybrid and plug-in hybrid formats. The engine is both smaller and lighter than any of Toyota’s current powerhouses, which helps offset the weight added by the hybrid system’s electronics. Toyota hasn’t provided any specifications regarding the new hybrid powertrain, but, per Autocar, it could generate around 400 horsepower.
Toyota currently offers three GR sports cars
Toyota currently has three GR-tuned sports cars in its lineup. Of the three, the GR86 and GR Supra wear the typical performance-driven sports car aesthetic. The GR Corolla is just one of a handful of hot hatches available these days, but it may not be alone for long, as Toyota did show off the GR Yaris M concept with the all-new hybrid powertrain that could deliver 400 horsepower, after all.
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The 2026 Toyota GR Supra rolls in hot off the production line with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The latest model blazes around the track with 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque, pushing it to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. To top it off, Toyota’s sports car features a top track speed of 155 mph.
The Toyota GR Corolla hatchback is the second most powerful of the three GR-tuned models. It comes equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The GR86 is last, but certainly least, with its 2.4-liter flat four producing 228 horsepower.
Toyota
It seems Toyota isn’t done with filling out its performance lineup just yet. In addition to the GR Yaris M concept, the Japanese automaker has teased the return of the MR2 nameplate and the revival of the legendary Celica. Toyota also showed off a GR GT3 concept back in 2022.
Final thoughts
It’s no surprise Toyota is extending its hybridization efforts to its sports car lineup. While it consists of just three models so far, the Japanese automaker clearly has plans to expand its performance offerings. Frankly, it almost seems like Toyota is trying to shed its reputation for boring, practical vehicles by spicing things up and putting a bit more pep in its step. After all, the 2025 Camry did come equipped with a 225-horsepower hybrid powertrain.
