The Prius everyone wants: Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition unveiled, inspired by race cars

Super long name, but this the closest thing the world has to a Toyota GR Prius. Technicalities be damned, all we know is we want one.

In full, it's called the 2023 Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition, a concept built to honour the 100th year of the annual 24-hour endurance race.

Also read: Used hybrids are really cheap, so should you buy a used Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid or Honda Insight?

One would think a Prius would be the furthest thing from cars whizzing down the Mulsanne straight but this isn't the '90s anymore. Toyota has been competing in the endurance series with hybrid-electric race cars since 2012, making this Prius a fitting tribute.

For this year, Toyota aims to extend its five-year winning streak, fielding two GR010 Hybrid racers in the LMH (hypercar) category that's also participated in by Cadillac, Porsche, Peugeot, Ferrari, Glickenhaus, and Vanwall.

Breaking another track record too should also be part of the goal; team Toyota Gazoo Racing's fastest lap of 3:27.607 set in 2021 is still the 13.7 km track's quickest made by any LMH racer.

Taking inspiration from its trophy-collecting sibling, this Prius concept car is 90mm longer, 50mm wider and sits 30mm lower than a standard car with front and rear tracks widened by 40mm.

Standard wheels ain't cutting it, so wide 235/50 profile Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres wrapping the 18-inch wheels (which takes after the LMH car's wheel design) are in order.

Also read: Back from the dead, this Toyota GR Corolla made history as world's first liquid hydrogen racer to complete an endurance race

So is a full aero treatment, and this centennial-celebrating Prius is bestowed a new front bumper, a carbon fibre hood, canards, side skirts, diffuser, and a large wing. Being a concept, there's no performance figures just yet, like there isn't pricing.

Come on Toyota, it's not like the Prius isn't selling well anyway. If you build it, they will come, as they say...

Also read: Sold out in 1 day, 2023 Toyota Prius has a 1 year waiting period in Japan and USA

Catch the 24H of LeMans

Some of you may be lucky enough to be there; for the rest of us, the official YouTube channel and Facebook pages of the ACO and FIA WEC will stream the race live and in full. Keep your tabs open too for seperate streams by several teams and sponsors which sometimes have unique, raw views and angles.

The weekend's schedule is as below, all times Malaysian.