Toyota has unveiled a new Prius-based concept car in the lead-up to the Le Mans 24hrs race this weekend.
Le Mans Centennial Edition
The new car has a long name, so deep breaths, everyone - it's the Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition, and it's being shown off on the eve of the 100th anniversary running of the famed French endurance race. Toyota will, once again, be competing in the top 'Hypercar' class at Le Mans, looking to notch up a sixth victory.
Victory or otherwise, this Centennial Edition Prius looks set to cause a stir. The new plug-in Prius has already been shaking people up with its sharp styling and impressive driving dynamics, and the calls for a properly sporty GR-badged version (GR standing for Gazoo Racing, Toyota's own in-house tuning and racing brand) started early.
Longer and wider
With the Centennial Edition, Toyota looks to be getting closer than ever to a truly high-performance Prius variant. The concept is 90mm longer, 50mm wider and sits 30mm lower than a standard car with front and rear tracks widened by 40mm.
Up front, there are four-point LED driving lights mounted low down in the front bumper, which also now includes a dramatic front aero-splitter and a huge mesh grille. At the back, there's a more aggressive aero in the shape of rear aero flicks and a large rear spoiler with endplates. There's also a rear diffuser, and underneath, there's a wide-track suspension set-up housing special 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 235/50 tyres.
Badges and decals
The concept also gets a dramatic grey-and-black race-car-style livery with prominent GR Racing badges and decals.
Toyota hasn't mentioned any upgrades or modifications to the Prius' 223hp plug-in hybrid powertrain. Still, it has reminded us that its motorsport programmes, especially at Le Mans, have helped to progress its hybrid tech, including: "improved cooling, miniaturisation of inverters mounted directly on electric motors, and development of silicon carbide and high voltages for semiconductors." There are also claims that the Prius Centennial Edition is sharper to drive thanks to "excellent driving performance due in part to its exclusive wheels and performance aerodynamic parts inspired by TGR's WEC-competing GR010 Hybrid."