Despite reports that BMW has no apparent plans to directly replace the BMW Z4 Roadster that shares a platform with the Toyota Supra sports coupe, the latter is reportedly going nowhere anytime soon. Toyota execs have claimed that they’re interested in developing a next-generation Supra, with or without a partner, and some reports have even suggested that a new partner could be Mazda, which has hopes of reviving its rotary-powered sports car as well. Whatever happens, Toyota is clearly committed to gas-powered performance models for now, and going forward. And that’s all mostly thanks to the company chair and former CEO, Akio Toyoda, who seemingly has no patience for an electric sports car.
- Base Trim Engine
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3L I6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-speed manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
It’s All About The Noise For Toyoda
“There will always be people inside Toyota passionate about developing electric sports cars, but for me, as the master driver, my definition of a sports car is something with the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine,” Toyoda told Automotive News. “Toyota is a mass-production brand, so we also need to think about affordability, even with BEVs. Once Toyota has the capacity to offer affordable BEVs, then maybe that’s a moment when I as a master driver will be introducing a BEV sports car.”
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It has to be noted up front that Akio Toyoda is a prolific racing driver, along with being an automotive executive for one of the biggest companies in the world and playing a hands-on role in the development of sporty variants or all-new versions of the company’s cars. It’s that racing and driving experience that is apparently stopping him from seriously pursuing a battery-electric sports car anytime soon.
The Key To Fun Is A Little Stamina
The main issue with an electric sports car is endurance, which has been pointed out multiple times before by various vehicle manufacturers, but was reiterated by Toyoda.
“It’s not exciting. Because you won’t be able to go around the circuit for more than an hour,” he said. “The kind of races I enter are mostly endurance races, so with the current BEVs, it’s not going to be a race of the cars. It’s a race of charging time or battery exchange or something.”
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Back in 2023, Toyota showed off a two-seat all-electric sports car concept dubbed the FT-Se based on a rather extensively adaptable new vehicle platform shared with the FT-3e SUV concept. The sports coupe was said to boast super-slim, high-energy density batteries and came flush with the Japanese automaker’s GR performance branding. Based on Toyoda’s comments, however, it seems like that concept still needs time to develop, but when the time is right, we can be sure that Toyoda-san will have had a hand in ensuring it’s engaging.
Source: AutomotiveNews
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