Yahoo Autos Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition is a hybrid in a racing suit
The humble Toyota Prius entered its fifth generation with a far more aggressive-looking design than its predecessors, and designers took advantage of the new look to give the hybrid the Gazoo Racing treatment. The model is a concept, however, and its drivetrain is unchanged.
Only the quickest and most powerful members of the Toyota range receive the Gazoo Racing (GR) emblem; the Supra, the GR86, the GR Corolla, and the GR Yaris sold overseas all fall under the sub-brand's umbrella. Seeing the Prius join the ranks of GR-branded models would have been completely unthinkable five years ago, and it shows how far the hybrid segment's poster child has come in terms of design.
The exterior receives most of the modifications. Toyota added a carbon fiber hood to save weight, redesigned headlights, and a full body kit that adds canards on the front bumper, side skirts, a sizeable rear wing (on a Prius!), and a rear diffuser. The 18-inch wheels sit further out thanks in part to a wider suspension system. We're told that these updates make the Prius more aerodynamic while improving traction.
