Long live the V8! That's right, Toyota had the whole of social media losing their minds over the weekend as they unveiled a very exciting pair of vehicles in a video that showed the evolution of Toyota perfomance cars on the track.
Designed around three key components which Toyota claim are :
- A drastically low centre of gravity
- Light weight paired with extremely high rigidity
- Aerodynamic performance prioritised above conventional styling processes.
Which should tell you that this isn't just a car that has GR badging slapped across it but it is a vehicle that has had great investment and developed put into the final product. This can be firstly seen on the outside where Toyota have used an all-aluminium body frame for the first time in any Toyota vehicle, which is said to provide a lighter, stronger and more responsive performance car. It is also worth noting that the development of the GR GT was led directly by TMC Chairman Akio Toyoda – Master Driver “Morizo” – together with top professional drivers, gentleman racers including Daisuke Toyoda, and Toyota’s elite in-house evaluation team.
The vehicle's appearance features a low-slung body stance and consists of strong lines, arches, and air vents that contribute to maximizing airflow and downforce. The front has a long nose to fit a V8, obviously, new LED headlights, a hood scoop, and a large lower grille flanked by aggressive side vents. Ironically, the GR badge is only found on the lower grille and back bumper of the vehicle instead of being plastered everywhere.
The side profile is that of a supercar, and some might say it closely resembles an LFA. We do not think that is a bad thing at all. Here, you find very big vent openings on the front wheel arches, which supposedly work to provide brake cooling and aerodynamic efficiency.
The rear is the most pleasing to look at, as you are given the gift of quad tailpipes, which, judging by the videos of the car on track and starting up, are going to provide a "meticulously crafted sound that synchronizes with the state of the vehicle."
Altogether these cars are set to provide a full breed perfomamce positioned as future flagships for Toyota’s performance portfolio. They embody the same pioneering ambition that produced icons such as the Toyota 2000GT and the Lexus LFA, while pushing TGR’s motorsport-to-road-car development ethos into a new era. With world-class engineering, a complete rethink of aerodynamics and packaging, and a focus on motorsport-honed performance, the GR GT and GR GT3 are set to become two of the most important models TGR has ever produced.
The interior is also quite nice from the pictures we have seen, featuring a brand- new look and layout that includes a steering wheel with only GR lettering instead of the Toyota badge. The interior seems to have personality since it's a bright shade of red. The cabin has a driver-focused cockpit, which Toyota says has been optimized for use by "both professional and gentleman drivers," while also being geared towards both track and daily driving.
Hybrid V8 Power
The GR GT debuts Toyota’s newly developed 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine, paired with a single electric motor and rear transaxle in a hybrid configuration which drives the wheels through a an all-new 8-speed automatic transmission with a wet-start clutch for a "sharper response". Development targets include:
- Over 470 kW output
- Over 850 Nm of system torque
- 45:55 weight distribution front to rear
The engine features a compact “hot-V” layout, with turbos mounted between the cylinder banks, and uses dry-sump lubrication to reduce overall engine height.
And if you feel this GT is a bit too tame for your liking than you'd be likely to know that youre in luck because right next to the GT will be a stripped out, racing themed GT3 variant of the car that uses the same setup but has enhance body work and asthethics that make for a more track focused vehicle. In the words of Toyota " The GT3 is a road-legal race-inspired flagship that is the full motorsport expression of the a true GT racer philosophy. It has been built to FIA GT3 specifications, the elite global category for customer racing."