TOYOTA GRMN HYBRID CONCEPT

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will show the “GRMN (GAZOO Racing¹ tuned by MN²) SPORTS HYBRID Concept II”, a convertible mid-engined petrol-electric hybrid concept, at the 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race taking place this weekend.

The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is an updated version of a petrol-electric sports concept shown at Tokyo Auto Salon in 2010. The vehicle features advanced styling and an improved sports-hybrid AWD system with the main power unit (petrol engine, rear-wheel drive motors and transmission) mid-mounted in conjunction with a front-wheel drive motor. Positioned this way it improves manoeuvrability, increases driving enjoyment and provides enhanced stability.

Toyota launched the world’s first mass-produced petrol-electric vehicle, the Prius, in 1997, and has long conducted active research on applying hybrid technologies to racing and sports cars.  The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is the next step in the evolution of these efforts.

GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II

Engine	Type	Petrol V6
	Displacement (cc)	3,456
	Maximum output (bhp)	245
System	Maximum output (bhp)	295
Body	Length (mm)	4,350
	Width (mm)	1,890
	Height (mm)	1,200
	Wheelbase (mm)	2,575
	Weight (kg)	1,500 or less
Vehicle layout		Mid-engined with front electric motor
Tyres	Front	225/40R19
	Rear	255/35R19

24 Hours Nürburgring Race Outline

Name	39th ADAC Zurich 24h-Race 2011
Dates	June 23-26, 2011 (main competition runs from June 25 and 26)
Venue	Nürburgring (Nürburg, Ahrweiler, State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

¹ A vehicle-development and motor-sports support program created by GAZOO, which also operates the GAZOO.com customer-participation portal site launched in 1998, “GAZOO mura” driving events and the “Drive Kingdom” large-scale test-drive events for the general public.

² Stands for “Meister of Nürburgring”, referring to Hiromu Naruse (1944-2010), a TMC test driver and chief of the GAZOO Racing team.