Toyota’s Insane Super Sports Car May Just Get Sexier By Dropping Its Top, Sort Of

It was just under a year ago when Toyota shocked the world with its first-ever supercar, the GR GT, and its Lexus cousin, the next-gen LFA. But in case you thought it couldn’t get any hotter than those two, you apparently thought wrong.

New reports suggest Toyota’s considering cutting off the GR GT’s head. Or in humorous car vernacular, slicing its roof of to create a droptop version.

All so that one can better hear the sonorous soundtrack of its new twin-turbo V8 with the wind in your hair. Say no more.

Because who doesn’t love an exotic convertible?

Toyota

According to Japan’s automotive publications Magazine X and Car Sensor, when translated from Japanese to English, loosely describes a new incoming version of the GR GT called the “Aero Top.”

Additional descriptors further explained it as a “version with a removable roof panel that allows for open-air driving.” Now, we sometimes claim to be professional at this car news thing.

Toyota

But if you ask us at the GP Motoring desk, that most certainly sounds like a convertible is in the works. However, it apparently won’t be a conventional convertible with a power-operated or manual folding roof.

Other details specifically note it as manually detachable roof panels. It’s a method Toyota used once before on a couple of past models. Then, they called it the “Aero Top.”

A GR GT targa sounds lovely

Toyota

One example is the fourth-gen “Mark IV” Supra, with its removable roof panel. Unlike a conventional convertible, where the top folds down into a rear compartment by way of electricity or manual labor, the Aero Top was similar to a late Pontiac Firebird’s or older Nissan Z’s “T-top” arrangement.

Meaning, drivers need to physically remove the roof panels by hand when the car is not in motion. The panels can either be placed in the cargo area or have to be left at home.

So in essence, this supposed open-air version of the GR GT would be more like a targa.

Toyota

The reason behind this is to maintain the GR GT’s mission of being lightweight, as it’s crucial to its performance. Convertibles tend to sacrifice performance for open-air enjoyment due to the requirement for more structural reinforcements and other body modifications.

On top (no pun intended) of the added complexity of a folding roof, it all adds weight.

Regardless, we’re all for the prospect of a Toyota convertible in any capacity. The last time America got a droptop ‘Yota was the Camry Solara Convertible (yeah, remember those?), which is a very far stone’s throw from the type of vehicle that the GR GT is.

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