The Targa-Topped Toyota GR HV Concept Is A Hybrid GT86 Mutant

Does the GT86 in these images looks a little weird to you? There’s a good reason why: it’s not really a GT86 at all.

It’s called the GR HR, and while it may use Toyota’s rear-wheel drive sports car as a base, it’s been radically redesigned with influence from the TS050 LMP1 racing car. Oh, and it’s had its roof lopped off, to create a curious-looking, targa-topped sports car.

Toyota hasn’t released much in the way of technical details yet, but we do know the LMP1 influence goes further than exterior design, with the GR HR receiving a hybrid powertrain using “technology refined by the TS050 Hybrid.”

There’s no word on what the internal combustion component of the system is, but we’re assuming it’ll retain the GT86’s tried and tested 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated boxer-four. The battery is mounted in the middle of the car meanwhile, to avoid mucking up the weight distribution.

Proceedings veer into an even more curious path when you step inside, where you’ll find - along with an absence of rear seats - what looks like a manual gear lever. Which is hooked up to an automatic transmission. Yep, at the touch of a button you can row through the gears in a six-position “H-pattern.” I can’t recall any manufacturer doing something like that since Alfa Romeo cooked up that weird ‘Q-System’ gearbox for the 156.

Does this car preview the next GT86? Is a targa version of the current car incoming? Hopefully we’ll know more - along with additional technical details - when the car makes its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in a few week’s time.