Toyota has built a proper supercar, and it is not messing about. The GR GT is a twin-turbo V8 hybrid grand tourer, and after years of teasing, it is finally heading for production.
A New V8
At its heart is Toyota's first 90-degree V8, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo unit paired with a single-motor hybrid system built into the gearbox.
There is no replacement for cylinders, the saying goes, and Toyota clearly agrees. While rivals downsize, it built a brand-new eight.
Together they make 650 PS, or 641 hp, and 850 Nm of torque. Top speed sits beyond 320 km/h, so this is a serious machine, not a styling exercise.
Built Light
The engine was designed to be compact and low, with a hot-vee turbo layout and a dry sump so it can sit deep in the chassis for a low centre of gravity.
Toyota also gave the GR GT its first all-aluminium body frame, with carbon fibre panels on top. Keeping the weight down is clearly the whole obsession here.
Grand Tourer, Not Track Toy
Power runs to the rear wheels through a new eight-speed automatic mounted as a transaxle at the back. That helps balance the weight front to rear.
It is a two-seat, front-engined GT, the kind of car meant to devour a continent rather than just chase lap times. Think Aston or Ferrari money and mission.
Born From Racing
The GR GT was revealed alongside a GR GT3 race car, so the road car and the track car share their bones. Toyota is using one to sharpen the other.
Toyota has not built a true halo sports car since the limited LFA over a decade ago, so this really matters.
It is the flagship of Toyota's GR performance brand, a halo car to sit far above the GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches.
When Can You Buy One?
Production is set for 2027, so there is still a wait. Pricing has not been confirmed, but a hand-built V8 Toyota will not be cheap.
After decades of concepts and false starts, Toyota finally has a genuine supercar on the way. The wait looks like it will be worth it.
For a brand best known for sensible hybrids, a 641 hp V8 GT is a serious statement of intent.
