In the early 2000s, the venerable Prius became a cultural symbol for many people who were not typical car enthusiasts. Its quirky design and ability to sip fuel garnered the attention of the environmentally conscious as well as politically minded detractors who saw it and a wave of other hybrid vehicles as virtue-signaling fashion accessories.

Toyota is preparing to usher its Gazoo Racing (GR) performance lineup into the hybrid era with a new electrified powertrain to ensure its high-performance models continue to thrive into the future.

According to the report, GR, which stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota's official motorsports arm and performance sub-brand, is developing a hybrid powertrain that uses a n ewly developed 2.0-liter turbo-4 as its gas component. The move will enable Toyota to meet stricter emissions regulations in both road car and motorsports applications.

As Toyota plots a slew of new sports cars with old names—like the Celica and MR2—the automaker is developing a new gas engine for hybrid setups.

Toyota is currently developing a new hybrid engine for its performance sub-brand, Gazoo Racing (GR), which will give its future models a chance to sell in markets where there are strict emissions regulations.

Toyota is on track with the development of its performance engines as the company is reportedly working on a new 2.0-liter four-banger for applications specifically in its new hybrid GR sports cars. According to AutoCar in the UK,