Special Motorsports Event - Toyota Motorsport Brings Electric Technology To Pikes Peak

COLOGNE - June 7, 2012: Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) will demonstrate its high-performance electric powertrain technology on one of North America’s most demanding motorsport events; the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on 8 July.

Last year TMG set a new electric lap record at the N�rburgring Nordschleife with the road-legal TMG EV P001 car, a record which still stands today.

TMG’s advanced electric and electronic department has spent the past months developing on an updated electric powertrain, which is more powerful and more durable than its predecessor.

That high-performance electric powertrain is the heart of the new TMG EV P002 car, which will compete at Pikes Peak as part of a project from Japanese company RK1 Inc. Multiple Japanese rally champion Fumio Nutahara will drive the car which features prominent branding from Yokohama.

Based on a Radical chassis, the TMG EV P002 has a predicted top speed of 240km/h in Pikes Peak configuration, with combined maximum power of 350kW from its two axial flux motors.

Watch the TMG high-performance electric powertrain technology demonstration

The hillclimb, which begins at an altitude of 2,800m and reaches the summit of 4,300m, is an ideal environment to showcase the strengths of an electric powertrain. TMG’s high-performance electric powertrain maintains full power despite the thin atmosphere at high altitude while delivering an impressive 900Nm of torque through its single-speed gearing.

The TMG EV P002 underwent a successful three-day testing session at the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France in May to verify car and powertrain performance.

Ludwig Zeller, General Manager Electric & Electronics, said, “Pikes Peak is a great showcase for TMG’s electric powertrain technology. We already proved at the N�rburgring that TMG is leading the way in developing such powertrains for motorsport and this is another sign of our commitment to this technology. TMG wants to be increasingly involved in electric motorsport and we believe our powertrain technology is an industry-leading combination of performance, durability and packaging. Electric powertrain technology in motorsport is still in its development phase but through projects like this one, TMG is laying the foundations for the future of high-performance and motorsport cars.”

About Toyota Motorsport GmbH:
Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has been based in Cologne, Germany since 1979 and built its reputation in the World Rally Championship, winning four drivers’ and three manufacturers’ title during a long participation which ended in 1999. TMG was also the home of Toyota’s works Le Mans 24 Hours (1998-1999) and Formula 1 (2002-2009) teams, both of whom achieved pole and podium positions, and a tuning and sports conversion subsidiary (established in 1994). Since 2007, TMG has been a pioneering centre of development for motorsport-related electric vehicle technology and for alternative drive train and infrastructure integration in general. TMG has already concluded several electric vehicle projects for external clients and is the proud lap record holder for electric vehicles at the N�rburgring Nordschleife.

For more information about TMG visit www.toyota-motorsport.com