Toyota unveils new TS040 Hybrid LMP1

The 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is gearing up to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent endurance racing history. After Porsche recently revealed its new 919 Hybrid, and Audi unveiled their revised R18 E-Tron Quattro, Toyota has taken the wraps off its new LMP1-H challenger, the TS040 Hybrid. The car was revealed at Paul Ricard circuit in Southern France.

The design of the Toyota TS040 Hybrid marks a major evolution over the TS030 Hybrid, and is redesigned to meet the requirements of the new championship regulations. In accordance with the new rules, the TS040 is two inches narrower than the TS030 and also incorporates a new series hybrid powertrain.

While a V4 turbocharged petrol engine powers Porsche’s 919 Hybrid and Audi’s R18 E-Tron Quattro is equipped with a V6 turbocharged diesel engine,  Toyota has opted for a 3.7-litre V8 petrol engine for their TS040 Hybrid, which produces 525PS of power. Toyota claims to have built this engine at their Higashi-Fuji technical centre, where research and development (R&D) work of road-going engines is carried.

The new petrol engine is coupled with two electric motors, an Aisin AW electric motor at the front, a Denso electric motor at the rear and a Nisshinbo super-capacitor. While the petrol engine will feed the rear wheels, the electric motors will deliver drive to all four wheels, producing an extra power of 480PS. Together these two powerplants will produce an output of approximately 1,000PS. The car will also consume 25 per cent lesser fuel than its predecessor.