Toyota TE-Spyder 800
 

Toyota MR2, Prius Combined In TE-Spyder Hybrid Concept
BY Antony Ingram

It's fair to say the Toyota Prius isn't the most exciting of vehicles. In fact, it's pretty much the antithesis of everything gearheads like about cars. It is a method of transport, and little more. Toyota's old MR2 roadster is pretty much the opposite. It's peppy, has its engine and driven wheels in the right place, the roof comes down, and it's a riot to drive. Aside from a 1.8-liter capacity and a Toyota badge, the two share very little.

In the Toyota Engineering Society TE-Spyder 800 revealed at the recent 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon, the two cars come together in quite an enticing package--one that could appeal to gearheads and hypermiling eco-drivers alike.

Based on the third generation of Toyota's 'Midship Runabout' series, the TE-Spyder ditches the MR2's typical 1.8-liter 1ZZ four-cylinder and replaces it for a 116-horsepower 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE unit. This isn't actually the engine you'll find in a Prius (nor is it the 1.5-liter unit from the Prius C subcompact) but it does use the 102-horsepower electric motor from the current Prius. The two are matched up to Toyota's electronic-Continuously Variable Transmission, which is actually a planetary gearbox capable of mixing and matching drive from the engine and electric motor.

An e-CVT doesn't immediately scream "sports car", but in a car weighing under 2,200 lbs the combination is still enough to deliver reasonable performance--at 5.8 seconds to 62 mph, it's actually quicker than the MR2 on which it's based. It certainly doesn't look anything like the MR2--in reality, it's probably closer to the recent Honda S660 concept--but it does look a whole lot more modern with its targa-style profile and slim-line headlights. Inside, the Prius similarities are more clear, with the sweeping center console of the current Prius. The wheel and seats are aftermarket items, and data is relayed to the driver via a TFT screen in front of the steering wheel.

There's no word on fuel economy, nor range, but the TE-Spyder does have another ace up its sleeve--the ability to plug it in for an extra dose of all-electric range. Given the low weight of the car, we're guessing there aren't too many batteries hidden away in that compact body, but it has to be one of the greener sports cars around.

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if you don't tell me it is a Toyota, I thought it is one of those Chinese concept cars, haven't seen giant e-brake for many years.

Now time to make a production model. Damn son Toyota going hard!

I'm not sure what to think of this, since it has Recaro seats, a Momo wheel (this sounds dumb but no airbag in a brand new car?), a rectangular LCD for guages, no heater vents, and it doesn't seem to say Toyota anywhere are we sure this is a legit Toyota concept? I mean the seats look like they come higher than the roofline.

That interior looks like it was put together with spit, toilet paper and parts from Hyundai's early '90s recycling bin.

Supposedly this was made by Toyota engineers when they were bored. A lot of the interior parts look cannibalized from the MR-S and spares from cars in the late 90's/early 2000's, so I'm not surprised that the interior is super dated.
Posted via RS Mobile

No
Posted via RS Mobile

The front looks like a fatter version of the new nsx
Posted via RS Mobile

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more like a ugly baby r8

yuk

Do not want
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Close.

The Toyota Engineering Society is basically open to any Toyota employee who has a desire to learn about technology. Among other things that get built, cars are often used as learning tools. So, yes, while the car was technically "made by Toyota," it's not an official concept. And that's why it's basically a spare parts car.