Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Toyota drifts the hydrogen-powered Mirai during the ADAC Rally Deutschland

Ronan Glon
By

Toyota Mirai WRC stage opener
WRC.com
Toyota is no stranger to unorthodox rally cars. Earlier this year, the car maker teamed up with pilot Ryan Millen to turn a family-friendly RAV4 crossover into a stripped-out racer capable of driving flat-out in Rally America events.

On the other side of the globe, Toyota recently built a custom-designed Mirai that’s being used as a stage opener during the ADAC Rally Deutschland, a World Rally Championship (WRC) event taking place near Trier, Germany. The stage opener drives the course at a brisk pace before the race officially kicks off, so the Mirai isn’t competing directly against rally-bred machines, but Toyota couldn’t resist the urge to deck it out with performance brake pads and rally tires. Inside, the sedan gets a pair of bucket seats and a full roll cage.

Recommended Videos

Mechanically, the stage opener is identical in every way to the 200 U.S.-spec Mirai sedans that Toyota expects to send to California this year. That means it’s powered by a fuel cell that works in conjunction with an electric motor to spin the front wheels. The drivetrain makes 153 horsepower and sends the 4,078-pound Mirai from zero to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds. A low center of gravity makes it more entertaining to drive than the aforementioned numbers suggest.

Related

Toyota will make a long-awaited return to WRC racing in 2017 when it lines up at the starting grid with a heavily-modified version of the tiny Yaris. It will be powered by a conventional gasoline-burning engine, but the company could eventually build a hydrogen-powered rally car.

“It is our dream that one day our fuel cell vehicles will be able to compete in WRC. Spectators at the Rallye Deutschland will have to get used to this noiseless premiere at Trier, but they’ll experience the art of an almost pollution-free future,” affirmed Yoshikazu Tanaka, the Mirai’s chief engineer.

The Mirai is on sale now in California, though availability is highly limited and interested buyers need to complete an interview with a Toyota representative to see whether or not they’re eligible to own a hydrogen-powered car. The sedan is scheduled to go on sale in the United Kingdom, in Germany, and in Denmark in the coming months.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
2021 Honda Pilot vs. 2021 Toyota Highlander

If you're in the market for a new family car, odds are you're looking at a crossover and not at a minivan. Car-based people movers with a tall seating position and a generously-sized interior are taking over the market, and it's not difficult to see why. They're often spacious, safe, reasonably efficient, and loaded with useful tech features.

Further reading

Read more
2021 Toyota Highlander vs. 2020 Ford Explorer
2020 Ford Explorer

Many families need a three-row SUV because it's a packaging solution that provides seating for more than five passengers, loads of cargo space, and strong towing capacity. Many also perform well off the beaten path thanks to the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD) and a raised ride height. The segment is growing and the competition is only getting hotter between these versatile vehicles. The Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer are household names because of their long-running success in the SUV world. Redesigned for the 2020 model year, both SUVs now offer the latest in tech and safety, and each one has a hybrid variant. Those in the market for a three-row cannot overlook the Highlander and Explorer. But which one is right for you? Keep reading and we’ll help you decide.  
Tech features
Toyota Highlander

Regardless of the trim you get, the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid come well equipped with lots of tech and driver-assistance features. The base, fleet-only L and LE trims come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen (the same as the Explorer), Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and five USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system found in the Limited trim adds a navigation system and an 11-speaker JBL audio system. The top system (optional in the Limited and standard on Platinum) adds a large 12.3-inch touchscreen (larger than the Explorer's). There are two sizes for the digital instrument cluster screen; the two base trims get a 4.2-inch screen, but the others get a larger 7.0-inch display that's smaller than the Explorer's. Some other notable tech features include wireless smartphone charging, a rearview mirror camera, and a 10.0-inch head-up display.
Ford Explorer 

Read more
Airbus shows off striking design of proposed hydrogen-powered plane
airbus shows off design of proposed hydrogen powered plane blended wing body aircraft

Airbus has shown off plans for what could be the first commercial zero-emission aircraft in service by 2035.

Powered by hydrogen combustion in modified gas-turbine engines, the three aircraft designs incorporate a range of configurations and technologies. The turbofan and turboprop concepts feature a familiar look, while the third design sports an eye-catching blended-wing body with a wide interior.

Read more