Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has been putting its Corolla Altis Hybrid Electric Racer through its paces as part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup. The vehicle most recently became a demonstration vehicle at the autocross round of the second leg of the Vios Cup. However, in the recently-concluded season-ender of the Vios Cup, the electrified racecar now benefitted from increased weight reduction measures, lighter wheels, as well as modifications to the wheel alignment, suspension, and exhaust.
Indeed, it was a sign that TMP is placing electrification into a bigger role in the local Gazoo Racing story–one that serves as a perfect venue to showcase to Filipinos that an eco-friendly hybrid has a place in Philippines motorsports. Actually, Formula One (F1) fans are probably already familiar with hybrids being used in motorsports since these racecars have already been hybrids since 2014. Unlike F1, however, the Vios Cup is a closer representation of what Filipinos actually drive, and therefore is a perfect venue to show Filipinos that even in the pursuit of sustainability and carbon neutrality, the world can still partake in the joy of driving.
One thing is clear–Toyota wants to make fun cars, and the company’s current chairman Akio Toyoda did just that with cars like the GR Yaris, GR Supra, GR 86, and GR Corolla (which isn’t yet in the Philippines). But in the pursuit of making fun cars, it’s also telling the world that even motorsports (and fun cars) can be sustainable. Just take a look at the new Toyota Prius–an eco-friendly hybrid that under Akio Toyoda’s leadership suddenly became a car with plenty of sex appeal. No one would’ve bought it for its style and driving dynamics, but not in 2023, the car is both sustainable, sporty to drive, and oozing with style. Please bring it in, TMP! We’d love to see the new Prius on our roads.
An even more extreme example is the GR010 Hybrid Le Mans Hypercar-class racecar, which is peak Toyota in terms of its combination of eco-friendliness and motorsports capabilities. The GR010 Hybrid has led Toyota to lead the Constructors’ Championship at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the past three years, and whatever lessons they’ve learned from the TS050 Hybrid and this GR010 Hybrid have and continue to be implemented in their development of ever-better cars.
Which brings us back to this Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid Electric Racer. As humble as this car is, it’s a culmination of Toyota’s engineering know-how with hybrids as well as its newfound passion in making fun cars. Whether it’s a family car, a luxury sedan, or a high-performance hot hatch, Toyota’s continued investment in motorsports reassures us that not only will they continue to make ever-better cars, but also sustainable vehicles that offer different solutions to various markets and personal needs.
TMP also aggressively pushes its wide range of hybrids, ranging from affordable models like the Yaris Cross to ones that offer the pinnacle of luxury in the new Alphard. Toyota’s wide range of hybrids allows a broad spectrum of Filipino customers to get behind the wheel of a vehicle that’s sustainable yet easily accessible and convenient to own. Combatting climate change should mean leaving no one behind by making eco-friendly technologies accessible to as many drivers as possible, and that’s exactly what the Corolla Altis Hybrid Electric Racer is set to prove. It also certainly helps that the car is also pretty fun to drive behind the wheel and is ready to race.
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