Toyota Unveils Radical New Le Mans-inspired Prius Concept

New Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition concept bows ahead of this weekend's historic Le Mans 24 Hours race and its 100th anniversary.

After teasing it last week, the covers are finally off and we finally have our answer to what exactly Toyota wanted to debut ahead of this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race. Folks, what you see here is perhaps the single most extreme and radical Toyota Prius anyone could imagine.

Christened as the Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition, this concept based on the latest fifth-gen and TNGA-based Prius boasts a bevy of special aerodynamic modifications, the list for which stretching as long as – or perhaps longer than – its name. While this may not the be the rumoured ‘hotter’ Prius GRMN everyone was hoping for, it is rather close to say the least.

Digital artwork of the Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition concept showing its radical aero. 

We’ll break the bad news first: Toyota did not disclose any powertrain or performance data. Nevertheless, given the level of aerodynamic tweaks it boasts, it’s perhaps safe to assume that there’s indeed a sizeable mechanical and performance punch to warrant them.

The Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition features a redesigned front bumper with motorsport-derived multi-headlamps flanking a rather large honeycomb lower intake. The front end also gets a pronounced splitter, two sets of canards, and a lighter carbon fibre hood.

Note the sizeable fixed rear wing, wide diffuser, and rear fender extensions.

Multi-headlamps (left) and striking Rays alloy wheels (right) are clearly inspired from the Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar endurance racer.

Accentuating its profile are the added black fender flares, side sill extensions, as well as the all-important “Racing Hybrid” decals. At the rear, this concept sports a rather sizeable fixed rear wing assembly that’s matched with a wide diffuser below, complete with rear fender extensions inspired by endurance racers.

Aptly, with the extreme aerodynamics and racing mods, the Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition sees itself sitting more closely aligned with the Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar class endurance racer that’s pining to claim Toyota’s sixth outright victory in this year’s edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar class endurance racer.

The Toyota GR010 Hybrid is pining to claim Toyota's record-setting fifth outright victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend.

Speaking of which, said event’s Manufacturer’s Village situated next to its famed Circuit de La Sarthe venue is where this radical Prius concept will be displayed this week whilst the famed enduro gets underway. Displays at other World Endurance Championship (WEC) rounds this year have been planned too.

The JNTO exhibition featuring the Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition concept (right) and the Mazda MX-30 R-EV (left) on display at Circuit de La Sarthe, France.

This weekend’s exhibition at Le Mans is held by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in collaboration with both Mazda and Toyota Gazoo Racing. It aims to showcase motorsport-derived tech from said Japanese automakers, as well as decorations by Japanese manga artist Masahito Soda.

For Toyota in particular, said exhibition also sees it focused on communicating its carbon-neutrality goals through electrification, hydrogen, and carbon-neutral fuels. You can read about said mission when the firm’s Malaysian arm held a detailed exposition for which recently by clicking these blue words…

Not the rumoured 'hotter' Prius GRMN we were hoping for, but close enough!