Toyota believes the main thing people need to appreciate hybrid sports cars is time

Toyota is a brand that knows a thing or two about creating elite and fun sports cars – but can a hybrid ever fulfil that brief?

The Supra remains one of the most beloved and revered cars of all time.

And for the majority of people, ICE-powered sports cars remain the pinnacle.

However, Toyota itself has conceded that time is the biggest factor in people appreciating hybrid sports cars.

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Toyota remains reluctant to produce hybrid sports car

When it comes to sports cars, there is little argument that the traditional combustion engine remains king.

For the large majority, nothing can replace the thrill of the roar and acceleration of an ICE-powered engine.

And it now appears that the world’s largest car manufacturer has conceded in agreement to that fact.

For years now, the brand has been extremely reluctant to release one of its own.

Such reluctance comes in spite of its own luxury division, Lexus, throwing off the covers on such a sports car soon.

This project, dubbed the ‘LFR’, is reported to include an electrified setup built around a traditional V8.

South Korean brand Hyundai’s N division is already producing such hybrid sports car offerings.

But Toyota itself seems unwilling to commit to offering a sports car with such a setup.

Why Japanese giant unwilling to go hybrid

Recently, however, some interesting insights into this topic have been unveiled.

In an interview with Drive magazine, a Toyota executive teased the possibility of a hybrid setup for a Toyota sports car.

Sean Hanley is Toyota Australia’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing.

“We’re doing hybrids now in different racing conditions globally, so you’d never rule that out,” Hanley said.

The Japanese marque has, indeed, tested hybrid powerplants in different racing conditions.

However, while a hybrid sports car is more than possible, there is one massive problem as far as Toyota is concerned.

It is going to take quite a while for petrolheads to warm up to the idea.

On the other hand, traditional, petrol-powered sports cars simply scratch the itch that no other car can.

“Is it desirable? I think in time it will be. The reality is that performance is exhilarating and entertaining, and right now ICE [internal combustion engines] still fill that gap for that market – that’s reality.”

With ever-tightening emission regulations across the world, a hybrid Toyota sports car could very well be the future.