2004 Toyota MTRC Concept

Like a full-size remote-control toy buggy, the Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC) is Toyota’s response to future customer demands. A tandem two-seater that combines off-road ability, sports car performance and motor sport derived technology, the MTRC shows that Toyota is now targeting not only the customers of today, but also tapped into what will appeal to future generations.

The MTRC was designed and built at Toyota’s European design studio, ED2. It is propelled by four in-wheel electric motors powered by a Toyota fuel cell stack, enabling the stylists much more freedom when designing the shape of the car than a conventional internal combustion engine and four-wheel drive transmission would allow.

MTRC has been conceived from the outset to compete in three different environments, as if in an automotive triathlon: off-road, race track and city street circuits. That combination of tracks might seem unusual, but it is common place to the millions who play and enjoy car racing computer games where part of the attraction is dramatic, high speed dicing through varied, realistic environments.

No surprise then that the MTRC will be available to drive in the upcoming Gran Turismo 4, the latest version of the massively popular video game developed by Sony Computer Entertainment and Polyphony Digital. Visitors to the Toyota stand at the Geneva Motor Show (4 14 March) will have a chance to try a preview of the game featuring the MTRC.