Meet the Toyota GR GT: the Twin-Turbo V8, 641bhp supercar we’ve been waiting for

For years, Toyota has been teasing us. We've had the brilliant GR Yaris and the sharp GR86, but enthusiasts have been waiting for the big one. Finally we have a true flagship to sit at the top of the Gazoo Racing pyramid. The wait is over.

This is the Toyota GR GT, and it's exactly the kind of car we feared manufacturers had stopped building.

For the next minute or two, forget sensible hatchbacks and efficient crossovers. This is a twin-turbocharged V8-powered, low-slung, wide-hipped supercar that has been developed in tandem with a dedicated GT3 race car, which very much means this isn't just a styling exercise; it's a homologation special to take on the racetrack and asphalt with equal vigor.

A Proper V8 Heart

Undoubtedly, the headline news is what lies under that expansive bonnet. Specifically for this car, Gazoo Racing has engineered a brand-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

Toyota also is being conservative with the numbers, calling them "minimum targets," but they're plenty exciting already. We're talking about more than 641 bhp and 627 lb-ft of torque. That power is shoved exclusively to the rear wheels via a newly developed eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Is it a hybrid? Technically, yes, but not in the way a Prius is. There's a single electric motor integrated into the transaxle. Its job isn't to save fuel; it's there to torque-fill during gearshifts, ensuring that the acceleration remains violent and uninterrupted. It is performance technology, pure and simple.

Designed by the Wind

The styling is nothing short of dramatic. It channels the spirit of the legendary Toyota 2000GT with its classic long-nose, short-deck proportions, but the execution is thoroughly modern.

It sits incredibly low to the ground-lower than a Porsche 911 GTS and features an aggressive aerodynamic package designed to glue the car to the tarmac. The front is dominated by massive cooling intakes, while the bonnet features deep vents to extract heat from that V8. At the rear, the quad exhaust tips are tucked into a functional diffuser that looks like it was lifted straight from the Le Mans grid.

Under the skin, Toyota has employed its first-ever all-aluminium frame draped in body panels made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). And all this went into trying to keep the kerb weight below 1,750 kg, which, for a modern V8 GT car laden with tech, is quite a target.

The Cabin

Open the door, and the first thing you notice is the lack of Toyota badges. This is a GR product through and through. The interior strikes a balance between race-car focus and grand touring luxury.

You get carbon-backed Recaro bucket seats and a driver-centric layout that feels more like a cockpit than a cabin. The digital instrument cluster prioritizes revs, gear position, and shift lights, reminding you that this car is meant to be driven hard. 

The GT3 Connection

The GR GT wasn't developed in isolation; it was born alongside the GR GT3 race car. By developing road and race cars in tandem, Toyota ensures that the street version benefits from genuine motorsport engineering: suspension geometry, chassis rigidity, cooling packaging-all derived from the track. 

This puts the GR GT in serious company. It's aiming to take on the likes of the Mercedes-AMG GT, the Aston Martin Vantage, and the Porsche 911. These are heavy hitters, but with Toyota's recent track record in the World Rally Championship and Le Mans, you wouldn't bet against them.

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FAQs

Is the GR GT a replacement for the Lexus LFA? Not directly. While it shares a similar philosophy—front-engine, rear-drive supercar—the GR GT is a Toyota product focused on V8 performance. Lexus is currently working on its own electric supercar which will serve as the spiritual successor to the LFA.

When will the Toyota GR GT go on sale? Toyota has revealed the car as a prototype, with the final production version expected to arrive in showrooms around 2026.

Is it a limited edition? Toyota hasn't confirmed production numbers. However, as a homologation car for their GT3 racing program, they will need to build enough road cars to satisfy FIA regulations. It won't be as mass-produced as a Supra, but it likely won't be as rare as the LFA either.

Can I drive it on electric power alone? No. The hybrid system is a "mild" setup designed to assist the engine and smooth out gear changes. The car relies on the V8 engine for propulsion at all times.