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Toyota’s Most Anticipated Car in Years Is Equal Parts Insane and Glorious

There’s a Lexus version too, which will succeed the epochal LFA.

Rear view of a dark metallic GR GT car with quad exhaust pipes and a red light strip across the bumper.Toyota
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By Chris Chin

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Welp, Toyota’s highly anticipated supercar is finally here. After years of rumors turned teasers, spy shots of test mules and executive confirmations, the Japanese automaker unveiled its first-ever dedicated high-dollar, high-performance coupe.

It’s called the GR GT and Toyota pulled the sheets off its new flagship on its home turf in Tokyo. But the GR GT wasn’t the only big new car takeaway from the debut.

No longer making boring cars

In addition to the standalone GR GT, Toyota also unveiled the FIA GT3-spec racecar for its motorsports teams, as well as what will eventually become the next-generation LFA.

Three Lexus sports cars—GR GT, GR GT3, and Lexus LFA Concept—displayed on stage with blue light backdrop and "World Premiere" text.
The GR GT is Toyota’s first-ever standalone supercar.
Toyota

Toyota’s been hard at work shaking its old stigma of being the most boring carmaker in the world. It was just a couple of decades ago when the Big T discontinued all of its sports cars and stopped making fun ones altogether (trucks and SUVs for the four-wheeling crew, aside).

Man in a suit standing next to two dark gray sports cars on a stage with blue vertical light panels.
The GR GT is arguably the summation of former CEO Akio Toyoda’s passion for speed and performance.
Toyota

Once former CEO and president, Akio Toyoda, took the reins, he initiated a movement to make Toyota fun again. Toyoda himself is a well-known amateur racer and a lover of speed and performance.

He’s been the driving force behind cars like the GR 86 and the Supra revival. The GR GT is the summation of his efforts, despite stepping down in 2023.

The most powerful and advanced production Toyota ever

Three sleek, modern sports cars in metallic gray shades on a reflective floor with a dark, smoky background.
The GR GT cements the notion that Toyota is no longer the ultimate purveyor of boring cars.
Toyota

Given that the GR GT is the company’s first-ever standalone supercar, complete with motorsports pedigree and engineering, it’s no surprise that the GR GT takes some superlative titles.

For instance, it’s all-new 641-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter gas-electric V8-based hybrid powertrain makes the GR GT the most powerful production Toyota ever. Bolstering those horses is a total system torque output of around 627 pound-feet.

Red leather and Alcantara car interior with digital dashboard, touchscreen center console, and GT-branded steering wheel.
The GR GT is essentially the motorsports FIA GT3-spec racecar adapted for the road.
Toyota

Its racing-derived all-aluminum space frame is also the company’s first, allowing the GR GT to weigh as much as a feather. And because it was designed and engineered from the ground up in tandem with its motorsports variant, it’s essentially a racecar adapted for the road.

Its dimensions of 189.7 inches in overall length, 78.7 inches in width and 47 inches in height means it’s actually much bigger than the LFA. But it’s height is nearly identical.

Silver car engine and suspension system with red brake calipers on a dark reflective surface.
The GR GT3 boasts serious kit, including Toyota’s all-new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, complete with a rear transaxle.
Toyota

However, the increase in proportions isn’t about increasing passenger or cargo capacity. Rather, it’s purposefully to increase the car’s footprint for wider axle tracks and the ability to lower the placement of the passenger cell.

Two dark gray Toyota GR sports cars with headlights on, one race-modified with a large rear wing and one street version, in a smoky studio.
Toyota engineers highlight three key parameters for the GR GT: ultra-low center of gravity, low weight with high rigidity and top-spec aerodynamics.
Toyota

Not only did this allow engineers to lower the center of gravity. It also enabled the fitment of the car’s gas-electric hybrid system and transaxle. Meaning, the transmission sits at the back of the car for perfect weight distribution and better balance.

The Lexus version will be all-electric

Blue Lexus sports car with headlights on in front of two silver sports cars under spotlights in a dark showroom with Toyota Gazoo Racing logo on the wall.
The Japanese automaker seized the limelight to also confirm the return of the Lexus LFA.
Toyota

Toyota also seized the moment to debut the Lexus version of the GR GT. Which, unsurprisingly, is essentially the Sports Coupe Concept that the company debuted in October.

Sleek light gray Lexus sports car with black roof, rear spoiler, and distinctive red taillights angled on a smooth surface.
The next LFA was already here, we just didn’t officially realize it.
Lexus

But now, the automaker confirmed it will be the direct successor to the LFA. To further drive the point home, Lexus even renamed the model to the “LFA Concept.”

Also unsurprisingly is the new update that the production model will be all-electric. Despite Toyota’s reluctance about going all-in on electrification, they decided to rather pursue the multi-energy approach.

Matte light blue Lexus sports car with black roof and large black alloy wheels parked on concrete.
The LFA’s successor sadly ditches the original car’s iconic V10.
Lexus

The strategy includes EVs to some degree, as exhibted by the LFA Concept. But because it remains in prototype form, it’s still under development, and thus, details and specifications remain unknown.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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