The Toyota would be all-electric.
The Mazda might also be electric but include a rotary engine range extender.
Rumours and reports like these give the automotive community hope. For a while, the sports car was all but completely dead but thanks in part to Toyota, it’s in the middle of a resurgence. In the middle because they are apparently working on a future electric sports car that will also serve as the basis for a new sports car for Mazda.
2023 Toyota GR Supra Matte White Edition | Photo: Toyota
Let’s not kid ourselves: Mazda could not and would not go all in for a low-volume sports car on their own. Toyota’s massive resources allow it to dabble here and there and if they can help a neighbor in the process, everybody wins.
Toyota Gazoo Racing is reportedly going to use the automaker’s e-TNGA platform, the same as the bZ4x, as the starting point for this sports car. And other than relying on a dual electric motor configuration, the similarities with the electric SUV end there. The AWD layout said to produce about 500 horsepower will be all-new and is currently being developed with input from Toyota’s World Rally Championship (WRC) team according to Drive.com.
It’s unclear whether this new car will be a new model or potentially replace the current GR Supra. What is clear is that the Mazda that will spawn from the arrangement will be the “successor to the RX-7”.
To keep weight down, the Mazda will apparently use only one rear-mounted electric motor and a smaller battery coupled to a petrol-powered rotary engine range extender.
We can’t wait to find out more.
