Toyota has been trying for some time to sharpen its sporting profile and remember its sporting past. Maybe that will bring the MR2 back as well.
Toyota has unveiled the concept of an all-electric roadster that could be a potential successor to the MR2 sports car that was discontinued in Europe in 2005. The open top two-seater was unveiled along with 14 other concepts that give a preview of Toyota’s recently announced electric offensive until 2030. The Japanese group plans to add a total of 30 new electric car models to its range within the next eight years, although a model name for the electric sports car on show was not mentioned during the presentation. However, Toyota has revived several historic names in the recent past such as the Supra. In this respect, a return of the MR2 seems quite conceivable, especially since the recently unveiled electric concept has similarly compact dimensions and a mid-engine layout as the MR2. Otherwise, the future roadster on display is a strikingly progressive sports car with a liquid outer skin dramatic bulges and flatter muzzle. In the front, there are also large side air openings that are framed by striking LED light strips. Also noteworthy: the front and side windows form a unit, door handles are not visible. Electric car offensive in ToyotaToyota’s sudden electric offensive comes as a bit of a surprise after the company has been very cautious in this regard. Group boss Akio Toyoda has now presented 15 new electric vehicles to the public in the form of studies. In addition to the compact SUV bZ4X, which is about to be launched on the market, there will be a whole range of other “Toyota bZ” models, including at least three other crossovers and a mid-range sedan. Small commercial vehicles, large pick-ups and off-roaders as well as another sports car in addition to the aforementioned sports car are also part of the portfolio of both brands. Lexus is to launch its first all-electric series in 2022 – in the form of the RZ crossover, which is based on the sister brand’s bZ4X . This is likely to be followed by other SUVs, a mid-range model and a super sports car. The brand is expected to offer an electric car in all segments by 2030. In Europe, North America and China, combustion engines will no longer be sold at this point, in the rest of the world this will end in 2035. Toyota was skeptical of the all-battery electric car for a long time and intensively advertised its hybrid or fuel cell technology as an alternative. Most recently, the Japanese had shown a slight shift in strategy with the Lexus UXe and the announced bZ4X, but the emphasis on the new e-offensive was surprising. From 2030, the group intends to sell at least 3.5 million e-mobiles worldwide with the expanded portfolio. This corresponds to around a third of the current total sales.
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