Toyota is a master of greenwashing its car line by touting the hybrid halo models which are capable of generating very impressive fuel economy figures. Motoring enthusiasts generally aren’t drawn to hybrids because the hybrid’s mission is to efficiently transport people and their stuff from point A to point B in the most efficient manner possible. This is not to say that hybrids cannot be fun, I submit this video as evidence.
This is the new Toyota TS30 Hybrid Le Mans racer. Yes, it’s a hybrid. Watch the video and listen to the symphony of straight cut gears, electric motor, and sonorous v8 engine.
I think Toyota is missing an opportunity by not having a hybrid sports car. After all, a hybrid’s electric motor is just a different kind of power adder used in place of a turbocharger or supercharger. What enthusiast wouldn’t love to carve some canyons with gobs of instantaneous electric torque shoving them out of corners? I could waste several gallons of gas with a car like this.
Anyone agree with me?
video credit: RacemediaTV
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The more I see of this car the more I am starting to turn round to the idea of electric cars in motorsport. My main problem is the sound, it sounds like a milk float when it’s leaving the pits and that’s not nice. However that being said it would be great to see a petrol engine (even if it has a little bit of added electric umph) mix it up with the Audis.
Thanks for the post.
You’re welcome. I agree, the electric motor does sound a bit neutered. However, I think it would make the pit area a much more pleasant place to work with quieter race cars. Been there, have hearing damage.
I understand the noise problems, my usual place when working is on the prat-perch so I get the pit noise and the full throttle effect, but I normally have my cans on soo it’s not too bad.
One thing that I would like to say is that most in-car race videos do sound garbled, because the audio is so loud that is overwhelms the microphone. I’m sure that the V8 sounds great from the outside!