Toyota's 'Master Driver' Akio Toyoda is skeptical about electric sports cars.

      Toyota's 2023 FT-Se concept provided a glimpse into how the brand's electric sports car might eventually appear.

      If you appreciate Toyota's recent approach to affordable performance vehicles, Akio Toyoda, former CEO and current chairman, is the person to thank. His involvement in the creation of the GR Corolla earned him a special edition named after his racing persona and granted him the unofficial, yet significant, title of “master driver.” In a recent discussion with Automotive News, Toyoda stated that as long as he holds his position at Toyota, he will continue to advocate for sports cars that deliver the exhilarating experiences he cherishes.

      “There will always be individuals within Toyota who are passionate about creating electric sports cars,” Toyoda remarked. “However, for me, as the master driver, my definition of a sports car involves the scent of gasoline and a loud engine.”

      This is one of the primary reasons Toyoda, an enthusiastic racer, has little interest in participating in an all-electric racing series. Another factor hindering electric performance cars is their cost.

      “Toyota is a brand focused on mass production, so we need to consider affordability, even with BEVs,” he explained. “Once Toyota can provide affordable BEVs, perhaps that's when I, as a master driver, will introduce a BEV sports car.”

      The exclusive Morizo Edition of the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla featured a modified six-speed manual transmission, increased torque, and the absence of a backseat, offered in an impressive matte gray hue.

      The same constraints that hinder high-performance EVs on the roads create even more challenges on the racetrack. Due to the slow refueling capabilities of electric race cars, the competition shifts focus from the driver to team logistics.

      “It’s not thrilling. You can’t circle the circuit for more than an hour,” he stated. “The races I participate in are primarily endurance events, so with the current BEVs, it’s not about the cars. Instead, it becomes a contest of charging durations or battery swaps,” he added.

      Toyoda thinks the company should keep pursuing the most effective way to decrease carbon emissions, whether through producing more hybrids, more EVs, or a combination of both. For the time being, he prefers to remain with gasoline-powered performance vehicles and leave the challenge of electrifying fun for the next generation.

      “The next master driver will need to face that challenge,” he concluded. “That’s their responsibility.”

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