TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Toyota’s racing department, unveiled the GR GT and GR GT3, two new models developed with their motorsport experience, in a world premiere. The prototype models, currently in development, carry the Toyota brand’s philosophy of building “ever-better cars” into the future. Toyota plans to launch the GR GT and GR GT3 onto the market in 2027.
Shaped by the experience of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, a name synonymous with countless successes in elite motorsport championships, the GR GT and GR GT3 were developed with a low center of gravity, high body rigidity, and superior aerodynamic performance. The all-aluminum body and a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, used for the first time in the GR GT and GR GT3 models, push their driving capabilities further. The GR GT and GR GT3 are positioned as new flagship models, following in the footsteps of the 1960s Toyota 2000GT and the Lexus LFA.
The new flagship model developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, the GR GT, is defined as a race car built for the road. This driver-focused sports car is equipped with a hybrid system that combines a newly developed 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine and an electric motor. The two-seater GR GT, which will offer over of power and more than of torque in total, maximizes performance with its front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. Paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission, the GR GT offers a more direct feel and faster gear shifts.
Thanks to the precise placement of heavy components, the GR GT achieves an ideal weight distribution of at the front and at the rear. This ratio contributes significantly to the car’s responsiveness and handling characteristics at the limit. The GR GT is projected to weigh or less.
Toyota developed the exterior design of the GR GT with a complete prioritization of aerodynamics. Aerodynamic efficiency and cooling performance were central to the entire design process for the GR GT, which will be capable of reaching maximum speeds exceeding .
In the traditional approach to car development, the exterior design is determined first, followed by work on aerodynamic efficiency. However, the conception of the GR GT as a road-legal race car required a radical rethinking of this process. The design team worked as a single unit from day one with aerodynamic engineers experienced on FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race cars.
In the development process, the aerodynamics team first created the aerodynamic model that met the car’s ideal airflow, downforce, and cooling needs. The exterior designers then prepared mass-production-ready design sketches while preserving the established aerodynamic requirements. Thanks to this approach, the GR GT offers both high-speed stability and superior cooling efficiency, possessing an aggressive and functional design identity that brings its motorsport DNA to the roads.
The cabin design of the GR GT was crafted to meet all the needs of both professional and amateur drivers in daily use and track driving. Driving position and visibility were prioritized when positioning other cabin elements. The ideal driving position ensures adequate visibility in all driving conditions. Attention was also paid to ease of use within the cabin, with driving-related buttons placed close to the steering wheel, and their position and shape carefully determined for intuitive use. Great importance was given to the gauges to ensure easy visual perception even during track driving. The size, height, and position of information displays, such as gear upshift and gear selection indicators, were meticulously determined.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will differentiate the GR GT not only through its high performance but also through the sensory connection it establishes with the driver. The newly developed V8 twin-turbo engine produces a characteristic sound unique to race cars in every situation, from initial startup to acceleration and deceleration. The sound development process aimed to create a natural tone that strengthens the driver’s interaction with the vehicle. Accordingly, the structure of the exhaust pipes was meticulously designed to produce sound in direct synchronization with the engine’s operating condition. Thus, the GR GT offers the driver a dynamic and fluid sound experience that lets them feel the engine’s pulse at every revolution.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing also introduced another exciting vehicle alongside the GR GT. The GR GT3, developed in accordance with FIA GT3 regulations, stands out as the highest level of the customer racing program. Introduced as the choice for those who want to win GT3 championships, the GR GT3 will meet the performance expectations of professional drivers while offering an easily controllable character that instills confidence in amateur drivers. Using the same engine as the GR GT, the GR GT3 also features a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing emphasizes that the driver-focused approach adopted for the GR GT is critically important in the GT3 category as well. In line with this, the brand is not only making the vehicle more competitive but is also preparing a special customer support program for GR GT3 users. This ensures that racing enthusiasts will have not only a powerful car but also a comprehensive support ecosystem to fully experience motorsport.
Toyota is using new technologies and adapting new development and production methods in the flagship models GR GT and GR GT3 developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Leveraging experiences gained in motorsport, the brand adopted a research and development approach supported by driving simulators, similar to those used for race cars.
The integration of simulators early in the development process ensured that the fundamental vehicle characteristics were efficiently refined from the start. With simulators used in the creation of every component, extensive real-world testing was also carried out on test tracks at the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama, as well as various circuits worldwide, including Fuji Speedway and the Nürburgring. GR GT tests were also conducted on public roads to ensure the car delivers excitement, easy control, and a feeling of confidence in daily use.
The development of these models was carried out by a team centered around chief test driver Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota. This team included professional drivers Hiroaki Ishiura, Tatsuya Kataoka, and Naoya Gamou, amateur driver Daisuke Toyoda, and in-house test drivers and engineers.
