Quote Originally Posted by Justin Karow @ 7tune.com
As a direct competitor to Honda’s upcoming CR-Z, Toyota are developing a new hybrid sports car based on a shortened Prius platform and packing more power… but will it be named “MR-2″?
2012_toyota_hybrid_sports_coupe Toyota is well on the way to making its entire line up hybrid powered by 2020 and this hybrid sports coupe is set to compete directly with Honda’s new CR-Z. The new Toyota hybrid coupe will be based on the Prius platform which apparently will have its length reduced by 100mm. This of course means that the 1.8L 2ZR-FXE engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive from the Prius will be carried over too, only the 2ZR-FXE and hybrid system will be tuned to provide 136PS which is 37PS over standard. This increase in power will obviously affect fuel consumption, with the hybrid sports coupe returning 35.0km/L as opposed to the Prius’s 38.0km/L for the lightest L-grade version. The consumption figures are only speculation but it’s safe to say that this will be one very economical sports car.

Going head to head with the Honda CR-Z means the new Toyota will of course be a 2-door, 2+2 seat configuration coupe. Sounds a lot like the highly anticipated “086A” compact FR sports car doesn’t it? It’s hard to say just how much the new hybrid sports coupe will encroach on the 086A’s market segment, but it goes without saying that both cars will appeal to totally different buyers. One thing our source was quick to note was about the interior of the new hybrid sports coupe. Apparently much of the interior of the Prius will be carried over to the new car; that’s not such a bad thing but it does seem like the cheap solution, especially if this car is to wear the MR-2 badge. The name of the new coupe is one thing that our source conveniently left out, instead preferring to leave that for a future update. The exterior on the other hand will be totally new, the images provided are a hint at what the hybrid sports coupe could look like.

The Prius-based hybrid sports coupe is expected to debut in mid-2012 and be priced from 220,000-330,000 JPY.
Interesting eh? 2012 is a long time from now. Would be interesting to see how this all unfolds