Toyota steps out of its comfort zone with the V8-powered GR GT
In the middle of all the noise around electrification and every brand rushing to prove how future-ready they are, there’s always that one surprise that makes you pause and wonder if we are really witnessing the end of the combustion engine, or not.
Well, Toyota just answered that question loud and clear. Out of nowhere, it revealed the new GR GT prototype for the first time. And while it feels unexpected, anyone who’s watched the GR division closely will tell you it was only a matter of time. So what are we looking at? A 2-seater motorsport-bred flagship sportscar inspired by two icons: the Toyota 2000GT of the ’60s and the respectable Lexus LFA.
Even as a prototype, it’s a stunner. It’s low, wide and sharp, with the latter reminding us of the LFA’s nose, but it’s the rear that captured our attention. There’s a full-width light bar, bold GT lettering, and four exhaust tips. Honestly, the whole design seems shaped around aero and cooling performance, yet it still manages to feel original, and it’s the kind of design that ages well in the sportscar stable.
Inside, Toyota says the cabin was built with driver ergonomics at the forefront. From the images, you see a flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel, a large infotainment display, and a neat row of physical buttons both beneath it and on the centre console. This is a welcome addition instead of the touchscreen-only setups everyone else is forcing on us.
What truly stands out, though, is that the GR GT is fitted with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo hybridised V8 engine that develops 478kW and 850Nm and sent to the back wheels via an 8-speed autobox. Toyota doesn’t mention the 0-100km/h time, but instead, it says the GR GT will max out at 320km/h or possibly even later. Toyota says these are the minimum targets for the prototype, so it’s likely it’ll meet them, if not exceed them. When you combine all of that instant power with a low centre of gravity, low weight, and high rigidity, you get a proper answer to the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, Porsche 911 Turbo S, and Aston Martin Vantage.
Interestingly, Toyota promises a target overall weight of 1,750kg, or lower, which ideally should make this an impressive car both on track and on the road.
It’s not the only prototype Toyota brought out, either. Sitting right alongside it is the GR GT3 full race-spec model built off the GR GT’s base. It’s a proper FIA-compliant race car engineered for customer teams who want to win races. Just like the road-going prototype, the GT3 packs Toyota’s latest tech and manufacturing tricks, including the brand’s first all-aluminium body frame as well as a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
At this point, both cars are still very much prototypes, and we’ll likely have to wait until around 2027 to see the full production variants. But this doesn’t feel like one of those half-committed ‘we’ll see what happens’ concepts manufacturers sometimes reveal. Not at all. This feels like a well-calculated move by the Gazoo Racing division, and honestly, it’s fascinating to see Toyota step out of its comfort zone like this.
