We’ve known for some time that Ford Performance (now known as Ford Racing) is testing hybrid powertrains for potential use in future sporty models, not to mention the fact that the automaker will be adding a hybrid powertrain option to every model in the Ford Blue lineup by 2030. As Ford Authority reported earlier this week, The Blue Oval is also testing a Ford Mustang hybrid of some sort, which is a vehicle we’ve been expecting for quite a few years now. However, Ford isn’t alone in that regard, as one of its chief rivals – Toyota – is also apparently cooking up some performance hybrid models of its own.
In a recent interview with Drive, Toyota Australia’s sales and marketing boss, Sean Hanley, revealed that the company’s hybrid initiative – split into models focused on efficiency and some built for performance – could very well wind up being used in a Gazoo Racing (GR) model, too. Such a split makes sense given the fact that hybrid assist can be used both to improve fuel efficiency or performance, as we’ve seen with quite a few existing partially-electrified vehicles on sale today.
It’s unclear what sorts of future Toyota GR models might wind up utilizing hybrid power, as both the GR Yaris and GR Corolla rely on the same turbocharged 1.6L I-3 gas engine at the moment. There have been rumors pertaining to several potential future GR models, however, including perhaps a new Supra, along with the revival of the Celica and MR2, or maybe even a production version of the GR GT3 concept. Regardless, Hanley revealed that Toyota has been testing performance hybrids in racing situations already.
“We’re doing hybrids now in different racing conditions globally, so you’d never rule that out,” Hanley said. “Hybrids definitely have that capability and capacity [to increase performance], there’s no doubt, and we’ve seen it at Le Mans, we’ve seen it in different race conditions in Japan. But it’s an interesting question in two parts. One, is it technically possible? Yes, it is. Is it desirable? I think in time it will be. The reality is that performance is exhilarating and entertaining, and right now ICE [internal combustion engines] still fill that gap for that market – that’s reality.”
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