Toyota Unveils the GR GT: A New Era of Japanese Performance

The Dawn of a New Supercar Legacy

Toyota has finally lifted the veil on one of the automotive world’s most anticipated unveilings: the GR GT supercar. After years of looking at disguised prototypes and a lengthy teaser campaign, Toyota has finally revealed the GR GT supercar in both road-going and GT3 racer guises. This marks a significant milestone for the Japanese automotive giant, positioning the GR GT as the first supercar from Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division, featuring a hybrid 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 641-plus horsepower.

A Bold New Brand Identity

In an unprecedented move, the GR GT will not carry traditional Toyota or Lexus badging. Toyota’s Gazoo Racing sub-brand is making the transition to the front of the marquee: this is the GR GT, and you will search it in vain for a Toyota badge. This strategic positioning establishes GR as a standalone performance brand within the Toyota family. In the United States, the GR GT will start to be sold in certain Lexus dealerships late next year.

Engineering Excellence Under the Bonnet

At the heart of the GR GT lies a new 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged hybrid V8, which features a “hot-V” turbo configuration and a short stroke and dry sump to lower the centre of gravity. All together, this powertrain produces “at least” 650 PS and 850 Nm of torque, flinging the GT to a top speed in excess of 320 km/h. The hybrid system incorporates an electric motor integrated into the rear transaxle, enhancing performance whilst meeting modern emissions standards.

Race-Bred Technology for the Road

The GR GT is TGR’s new flagship sports car developed as a road-legal race car that further advances TGR’s philosophy of making ever-better motorsport-bred cars. The vehicle showcases several technological firsts for Toyota, including Toyota’s first all-aluminum body frame and a 4-liter, V8 twin-turbo engine. The claimed curb weight for Toyota’s latest supercar is 3858 pounds.

Market Positioning and Availability

Expected to arrive in showrooms sometime in 2027, the GR GT is positioned to compete directly with established supercar rivals. No word on pricing, but none of the Toyota reps present scoffed at our suggesting a $350,000 to $400,000 price, which would land it in the world of the Aston Martin Vanquish, Ferrari 296, Ford Mustang GTD, McLaren 750S, and Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This pricing strategy aims to make the GR GT more accessible than the legendary Lexus LFA whilst maintaining exclusivity and performance credentials.

Significance for the Automotive Industry

The GR GT represents more than just another supercar launch. Positioned as flagships in the footsteps of the Toyota 2000GT of yesteryear and the Lexus LFA, one of the aims of the development of the GR GT and GR GT3 was to preserve and pass on “the secret sauce of car-making” to the next generation as “Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu”. This philosophy demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to preserving craftsmanship whilst embracing cutting-edge technology, potentially setting new standards for hybrid performance vehicles and inspiring the development of future GR models across Toyota’s entire range.