We knew Toyota wanted to hog the stage when it dropped a teaser—a literal trio of billboards at Fuji Speedway’s “hot corner.” We also guessed that today we’d get news of a new GR GT, since that trio sure seemed to dangle the idea of a Lexus LFA successor, and Toyota/Lexus have been making it clear that something new and extraordinary is pending.
Today, Chairman Akio Toyoda sat down for a 90-minute, faux talk show on YouTube to indicate at least a little more about what’s to come. And at least a tiny bit more on the timing. Also, there’s more than just the GR GT in this, probably, eventually, for American buyers as well.
The GR GT Sure Sounds Like A V-8
Ever since, most recently, we caught a glimpse of the Lexus Sport Concept at Pebble Beach in August, we’ve been thinking what you’re thinking: that this is the next LFA. And it very well may be. Especially because during the “talk show,” there was an audio clip that sounded distinctly like a V-8. (Just advance the clip below to the 45-minute mark to use your own ears.)
Why Wait?
There’s still a bunch we don’t know. Yes, Chairman Toyoda confirmed that whatever they’ve got cooked up, it will debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon in early January. So, no, not later this month at the Japan Mobility Show at the end of October.
By the way, that makes more sense, too, from a strategic point of view, since the Tokyo Auto Salon is sort of like a Japanese SEMA merged with a massive cars and coffee. The Mobility Show is more staid and corporate. Chairman Toyoda is a huge car enthusiast, so he knows it’s smarter to cater to the right audience for maximum buzz.
Why It Matters
Even though we have some aural hints that this is a V-8, we don’t know if it’s mid-engine, front-mid, or if it will be a hybrid. We suspect the latter, because Toyota rather famously has decided that hybrids are the best strategy for fuel-efficient, powerful propulsion, at least in the near term.
Meanwhile, many of their supercar competitors who don’t also make affordable, mass-market, mainstream cars (Porsche) are hurting financially, because they went too quickly and all in on EVs. Porsche, especially, has had to pull back from that idea, and other supercar rivals like Ferrari are in this pickle, too.
TopSpeed’s Take
Toyota would clearly like to showcase its might and know-how with a hybrid that rocks the endurance GT racing landscape, while putting the wood to its rivals. Akio Toyoda cares deeply about winning on all fronts. Toyota’s in F1 via Team Haas, which they’ll take over entirely this coming season, as Haas becomes Toyota Gazoo Racing, and Toyota’s motors will be in the cars at last, too. Don’t think Toyota hasn’t eyed Honda’s presence in this ultimate arena, likely with envy. For the Toyota and Lexus brands, cars like the GR GT matter for marketing and for prestige, too. It’s a proof of concept. And proof of corporate primacy, most of all.