The new NSX won't be the first hybrid supercar

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 09/13/2013 at 17:47 • Filed to: concept cars, toyota, cydka

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This is the 2004 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , a gasoline-electric concept car named after the inventor of the battery and styled by Guigiaro.

The car was four wheel drive, with one electric motor for the front wheels and one in the back, together putting down a shade over 400hp. Generating power in the middle was the V6 out of a Lexus RX400. Top speed was only 155 mph but thanks to the electric 4WD, 0-60 came in an impressive 4 seconds.

Unfortunately, the Alessandro Volta was purely a design exercise that Toyota never intended to put into production. Instead, they chose to use 2004 to introduce a new Prius and Solara, and then another Abalone Avalon the year after.

Gamecat235 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/13/2013 at 17:50

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BECAUSE IT WON'T BE A SUPERCAR. Right Raph?

Will this goddamned conversation ever stop?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 17:51

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Not if you keep it going like that it won't...

maximillious > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 17:51

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nope it wont

GhostZ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/13/2013 at 17:55

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I assume you don't count the 4 new Hybrid supercars on your list, that will be on sale before the NSX? (Porsche 918, BMW i8, LaFerrari, Mclaren P1)

Unless you mean Japanese hybrid supercar. And you can't pull the "The Porsche/LaFerrari/P1 are hypercars" because the i8, which is definitely an NSX Competitor, will be on sale in early 2014.

Also, by the looks of it, the Toyota isn't a working prototype, just a design study, so it doesn't even count as a hybrid car. Or did they end up actually designing a 4WD/Hybrid system for it? The concept is interesting, but it looks more like vaporware and promotional material than an actual working car.

Ghost Dog - For the kittens > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 17:58

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I'm not saying it's subjective, but maybe the reason is continues is because it's a case-by-case thing?

The 911 Turbo for example: I wouldn't class it as a Supercar. The reason for this case? It's based on a base model.

Just throwing out ideas...

??

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > GhostZ 09/13/2013 at 17:59

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To be honest, I was just trying to think up a title and the NSX popped into my head first when I thought "hybrid supercar". The others would've worked perfectly fine here, I was just trying to come up with something catchy.

Gamecat235 > Ghost Dog - For the kittens 09/13/2013 at 18:00

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A 911 Turbo S will outperform many "supercars" in every measurable way. And a GT2 / GT3 will further drive the nail in. If performance is not the first criteria for being a supercar, then the title is meaningless.

Victorious Secret > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 18:00

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Supercars.

The Aston Martin Vantage isn't. The Vantage V12 is.

The 911 C2s isn't. The 911 Turbo is.

The Gallardo is full stop. The 458 is full stop. The SLS is full stop.

Problems?

GhostZ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/13/2013 at 18:04

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Yeah, I realized that after I posted that, I was pretty much playing 'bitchy correctionist commentor' on an otherwise interesting post.

Gamecat235 > Victorious Secret 09/13/2013 at 18:05

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911 4S? 50th Anniversary Edition? Answer Carefully.

Victorious Secret > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 18:08

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Nope.

The C2S, C4S, Targa, Targa 4S, Targa S, 50th, and anything that isn't a GT2, GT3 or Turbo is not a supercar.

The GT3/RS are track whores. They will make most things look bad. the GT2...yea. Its no Carrera GT but for a long time who cared? The Turbo? It is so far removed from the base 911 that you can't really say "Its just a base 911 with some turbos"

911 Turbo in particular is the evolution of the supercar. The closest in ride comfort and usability would be the MP4-12C. I don't prescribe to the 1960s idea that a supercar needs to be uncomfortable and compromised to no end just to earn that label.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > GhostZ 09/13/2013 at 18:09

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The Alessandro was actually part of the development of Toyota's "Hybrid Synergy Drive", which was introduced on the Prius of the same year.

Gamecat235 > Victorious Secret 09/13/2013 at 18:10

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But isn't the Turbo just a turbo'd 4S?

Victorious Secret > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 18:14

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If it is, it sure as hell doesn't drive like one.

Gamecat235 > Victorious Secret 09/13/2013 at 18:17

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It's not, not exactly, but a 4S is closer to a Turbo than it is a base Carrera. Of course, the 911 makes it damn hard because there is literally an iteration of nearly every variation between base and GT3.

But I concede your point there. I agree with all of your suggestions. I just wanted to test you. Now if there was a Turbo'd 50th that was just RWD? Where would that fall?

Victorious Secret > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 18:20

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RWD 50th with a turbo? We are creeping back into GT2 territory with that one.

Ghost Dog - For the kittens > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 18:48

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I agree performance is the first criteria that needs to be met, but not the only criteria is all. Just my opinion.

Gamecat235 > Ghost Dog - For the kittens 09/13/2013 at 18:59

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Sure. And I understand this, BUT, and this part is HUGE, there are some cars that seem to be understood as being supercars, that under perform, in every area, than cars of the same era, that are consistently categorized as not being supercars.

To me, this makes the entire categorization pointless. (And don't get me started on the conversation of Hypercar/Supercar/Sports Car/GT because these are such muddy waters).

And the 911 Turbo and GT variants just wreck the entire curve, as do the Skyline GT-Rs.

Taylor Hedgie > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/13/2013 at 19:11

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What the. Who the. Why the. WHY am I just know becoming aware of this cars existence? I really don't like this feel I'm having.

ASheep > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/13/2013 at 19:49

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Going to get really nitpicky here, but according to the article, this design study was a series hybrid, whereas all Toyota hybrids use Parallel Hybrid or Hybrid Synergy Drive. Toyota never produced a series version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive, because it would require them to ditch the insanely complicated planetary gearset they have spent so long perfecting.

Ghost Dog - For the kittens > Gamecat235 09/13/2013 at 19:55

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YES, muddy, muddy waters!

I don't recall ever hearing the term being used in reference to a 365 GTB. What made the Countach a supercar, but not the 365? Performance is separated by a hair. In that case I believe it's engine placement. Too muddy indeed.