With production of the Mk V Supra now well underway and the second-generation 86 development work happening as you are reading this, one has to wonder about the other bits of Toyota's new-age sportscar plan.
Keep in mind that, back in 2017, Tetsuya Tada, Supra's chief engineer, has stated that he's aiming for the automaker to have three dedicated performance vehicles. Well, we can take the two models mentioned above and add the 2020 GR Super Sport hypercar, a hybrid that will allow the company to enter the Le Mans Hypercar scene (this will replace the LMP1 top tier, while also involving road-going homologation specials from the 2022 season).
So, where does that leave the eagerly anticipated returns of models such as the Celica or the MR2? While rumors surrounding the revival of the said badges have been strong for the past few years, it looks like we might have some more waiting to do.
For instance, with the electric revolution now taking over the car industry, we should see Toyota introducing one or more battery-powered sportscars from 2025 onward. And the company might just wish to use one of the said badges to link the newcomer(s) to its go-fast DNA. But what if we were to have an even more exotic dream?
Well, the rendering sitting before us helps us imagine an electric Toyota sportscar. However, before moving on to the details of the virtual build, it's worth noting that TUGBOTZ, the digital label behind the work, has envisioned the proposal as a new-age Toyota 2000GT. You know, the iconic late 1960s grand tourer of which just 351 units were built, with this having even received a racing version that benefited from the expertise of Carroll Shelby.
For the record, this is a team of enthusiasts including Nirmit Soni (concept and design), Sandeep Dasari (digital modeling), Vitali Enes and Constantin Stein (photography), as well as Vitali Enes (CGI/retouch).
Of course, the actual "revival" model Toyota selects once it decides to take its sportscar range down the EV route, if any, is anybody's guess.
Regardless, the sleek styling cues seen here seem to make the vehicle appear more compact, which is always an asset. And the minimalist design approach ensures this is a memorable proposal.
Zooming in on the aero details, we notice this machine means business, from the carbon winglets that define the chin of the vehicle and the Supra-like air intakes up front, to the side skirt extensions and the rear diffuser.
And while the light clusters at both ends provide the connection to the 2000GT, the absence of tailpipes talks about the electron juice flowing through this proposal's veins.
So, where does that leave the eagerly anticipated returns of models such as the Celica or the MR2? While rumors surrounding the revival of the said badges have been strong for the past few years, it looks like we might have some more waiting to do.
For instance, with the electric revolution now taking over the car industry, we should see Toyota introducing one or more battery-powered sportscars from 2025 onward. And the company might just wish to use one of the said badges to link the newcomer(s) to its go-fast DNA. But what if we were to have an even more exotic dream?
Well, the rendering sitting before us helps us imagine an electric Toyota sportscar. However, before moving on to the details of the virtual build, it's worth noting that TUGBOTZ, the digital label behind the work, has envisioned the proposal as a new-age Toyota 2000GT. You know, the iconic late 1960s grand tourer of which just 351 units were built, with this having even received a racing version that benefited from the expertise of Carroll Shelby.
For the record, this is a team of enthusiasts including Nirmit Soni (concept and design), Sandeep Dasari (digital modeling), Vitali Enes and Constantin Stein (photography), as well as Vitali Enes (CGI/retouch).
Of course, the actual "revival" model Toyota selects once it decides to take its sportscar range down the EV route, if any, is anybody's guess.
Regardless, the sleek styling cues seen here seem to make the vehicle appear more compact, which is always an asset. And the minimalist design approach ensures this is a memorable proposal.
Zooming in on the aero details, we notice this machine means business, from the carbon winglets that define the chin of the vehicle and the Supra-like air intakes up front, to the side skirt extensions and the rear diffuser.
And while the light clusters at both ends provide the connection to the 2000GT, the absence of tailpipes talks about the electron juice flowing through this proposal's veins.