Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) has begun testing its first battery-powered prototype, and the company’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, is personally involved in its development. Toyoda has stated that the electric vehicle (EV) must be at least as fun to drive as current combustion-engined models. He has also suggested that the car will have many characteristics of combustion-engined cars, including having a clutch, gearbox, and even making a sound to mimic engine noises. The GR model could be co-developed with a Lexus equivalent, as last year, the upmarket firm revealed early details of a manual transmission project it was working on for future BEVs.

The GR test car’s development showcases the company’s willingness to take on new ideas. Toyoda has stated that the car would look like a BEV from the outside, suggesting that it is likely to be based on an all-new model rather than a bespoke car. In 2021, the firm pledged to launch 15 new BEVs by 2025 and hit 1.5 million BEV sales by 2026. Last year, Toyota sold 26,000 BEVs after its first model, the bZ4X, was recalled for a safety issue.

The GR EV will feel like smash-hit ICE cars

Toyoda has long championed the aural delight of driving a car quickly and has cited its importance when promoting the company’s involvement in developing hydrogen combustion technology for motorsport and potentially road car applications. He stated that the biggest difference to other BEVs they are developing is that when you are in the GR BEV, you can actually hear the engine noises, even if you can’t smell gasoline. There is also a manual transmission and clutch. If you put someone in the car and asked them to drive it and guess the powertrain, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you.

The manual gearbox adds credence to suggestions that the GR model could be co-developed with a Lexus equivalent. The firm’s chief engineer, Takashi Watanabe, outlined that the gearstick and clutch wouldn’t be connected directly to the motor, but they would simulate shifts by adjusting the torque settings of the electric motor. He also suggested that it could be programmed to allow the car to roll back on a hill or even potentially emulate a stall to ensure poor driving is punished.

The GR EV will look like an electric car

However, Toyoda added that the car would look like a BEV from the outside, suggesting that it is likely to be based on an all-new model rather than a bespoke car. GR models have so far focused on the more affordable end of the market and taken inspiration from mainstream cars rather than being bespoke models. Given that, a car under development now would be likely to use the latest, more affordable, lithium-ion technology.

Toyota’s plans for BEVs

In 2021, Toyota pledged to launch 15 new BEVs by 2025 and hit 1.5 million BEV sales by 2026. Last year, Toyota sold 26,000 BEVs after its first model, the bZ4X, was recalled for a safety issue. It is likely the GR BEV would make use of battery advances that were announced separately earlier this week. Although Toyoda did not comment on the possibility, a statement from Toyota revealed that the company will start making cars using next-generation lithium-ion technology from 2026. A “technological breakthrough” with energy-dense solid-state battery technology means that a further step change in performance could potentially be possible from 2027-28, resulting in mass-market cars with a range of up to 745 miles per 10-minute charge.

The potential for using smaller batteries to achieve high performance and range is seen as a crucial advantage for solid-state technology in hot EVs of the future. It is expected that solid-state technology will cascade into models across the firm’s ranges as prices come down and more mainstream applications are developed.

Conclusion

Toyota Gazoo Racing has begun testing its first battery-powered prototype, and the company’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, is personally involved in its development. Toyoda has stated that the electric vehicle must be at least as fun to drive as current combustion-engined models. The GR model could be co-developed with a Lexus equivalent, and the manual gearbox adds credence to this suggestion. The GR EV will look like an electric car from the outside, but it will have many characteristics of combustion-engined cars, including having a clutch, gearbox, and even making a sound to mimic engine noises. Toyota has pledged to launch 15 new BEVs by 2025 and hit 1.5 million BEV sales by 2026. The company will start making cars using next-generation lithium-ion technology from 2026, and a “technological breakthrough” with energy-dense solid-state battery technology means that a further step change in performance could potentially be possible from 2027-28.