Toyota will show the "GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II" at the 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race, this weekend.
It is a development of the GRMN Sports Hybrid, which was shown at the 2010 Tokyo Motor Show. The 'MN' in the name stands for 'Meister of Nurburgring', a reference to the late Toyota test driver and chief of the Gazoo Racing team (that's the GR by the way), Hiromu Naruse. He tragically died testing a Lexus LFA on roads near the Nürburgring.
The two-seater convertible is a bespoke design, which features a mid-mounted 245bhp, 3.5-litre petrol V6 powering the rear wheels, and a 50bhp electric motor powering the fronts.
The all-wheel drive powertrain and balanced nature of the mid-mounted petrol engine means the concept is, apparently, an agile handler. Meanwhile, the reasonable kerb weight of around 1,500kg should also mean spirited performance.
No economy figures have been published, which would indicate the GRMN is as much about straight line oomph as outright economy.
Russell Campbell - 24 Jun 2011