Toyota to Revive MR2 as Prius Coupe

2010 Toyota Prius

By Thami Masemola
March 19, 2009 2:00 PM
Filed Under: Hybrid, Japanese, Rumours, Toyota

Two years ago Toyota unveiled the FT-HS Concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid engine, the FT-HS pointed towards an enviro-friendly sports car future. Thereafter the car went around the world appearing in other auto shows. Then things went quiet. Until now.

Auto Express says it has the inside line on the FT-HS. They report that Toyota is developing it into a production model that will represent all that is good about sports cars and all that is good for the environment using a modified Prius powertrain. It will be aerodynamically advanced to help handling and keep fuel bills low as well as pack a long list of technological innovations.

The car would be badged as an MR2 to revive the name of that funky little Toyota sports car. It will be a coupe with a rear-wheel-drive setup and a paddleshift gearbox. A Toyota executive said the company would work to achieve a low price point which is speculated at around £20,000 (about US$24,400) for the MR2.

In terms of performance it may do the 0 - 60mph time in about 7 seconds while emitting less than 100g/km of C02.

 

Source: autoexpress

Comments

Bristol411S3
March 19, 2009 2:09 PM
I think there is a market for this kind of car. Isn't Honda doing something similar with the CRX?

350Zed
March 19, 2009 3:12 PM
The key selling point for me here is that it will be RWD, whereas the CRX-replacement will likely be FWD (given Honda's track-record).

mc959
March 19, 2009 3:43 PM
Told ya, things will change with Toyota's new president, he like sportcars and he was head of the developing team from the IS-F and the LF-A. We'll gonna see a lot of good things in the futur too...

politz
March 19, 2009 4:04 PM
A Prius Coupe? Yawn.

You see, the only possible way of Toyota building an affordable sports car these days is in the guise of a 'green' coupe. A new Paseo, Celica or MR2 would appeal to the young crowd, which would lead to customized versions, which would lead to more reported problems, which would lead to a less dependable image of the brand as a whole. And you know, dependability is what Toyota is all about these days.

Joe_Limon
March 19, 2009 4:31 PM
MR2=Prius Coupe? wow, I don't see it... then again the two car's will probably share as much design language as the genesis coupe/sedan.

adz612
March 19, 2009 4:56 PM
2 words Toyota. Don't bother!

astroturf777
March 20, 2009 12:20 AM
putting shoelaces on a pair of thongs doesn't make them shoes - putting the word 'sport' in front of a post 2000 toyota doesn't make it a sportscar... read again 'may do the 0 - 60mph time in about 7 seconds' so what?? the prius is a feel good celeb icon that is produced by slave labor from toxic components refined in 3rd world countries not signed on to any emission treaties. a true green car has a green PRODUCTION not lifespn. Anyone else researched the environmental impact of lithium production for the battery cells??

BDSawicki
March 20, 2009 11:44 AM
Just do it Toyota!

@mc959: I do hope things will change with the new president!

pscs
March 20, 2009 12:54 PM
why have japanese car makers make L-shaped headlights???

...and korean manufacturers will soon follow.

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