What's the news?
Toyota is looking to cash in on its Le Mans racing efforts with a new concept car using some of the battery technology and even a little bit of the styling of the TS050 race car.
The GR HV is, pretty obviously, based on the structure of the GT86 coupe, but this one has both a targa-top roof, some headlights lifted all but directly from the TS050 and, crucially, hybrid power. Toyota isn't talking specifics of the powertrain just yet (although we assume that it's using a development of the GT86's 2.0-litre flat-four) but the battery for the hybrid drive is placed where the standard car's rear seats would normally be.
On top of which, the GR HV has a bit of an interesting gearbox. Normally, it's an automatic (Toyota doesn't yet say how many speeds it will have) but, lift the fighter-jet style flap on top of the gear lever and push the button underneath, and you can stir the gears yourself like a traditional manual box, complete with H-gate. It's Toyota's way of trying to make a hybrid car more involving and exciting.
There's just a faint chance that the GR HV (Gazoo Racing Hybrid Vehicle) could make production, in some form, as a future stablemate the the upcoming new hybrid Supra, which will share a platform with BMW's new Z4.
Also appearing at Tokyo for Toyota is the Tj Cruiser concept, a boxy, retro-styled MPV with seats for four and enough cabin space to swallow a three-metre load, such as a surfboard. It has sliding side doors, and lots of clever luggage lashing points and extra spaces for cargo inside. A new Verso MPV? We can but hope.