Toyota Gazoo Racing has unveiled the Toyota GR GT and GR GT3 in a world premiere, two closely related prototypes that anticipate the brand’s next-generation flagship sports cars, both scheduled to debut in 2027. The GR GT is conceived as a true race car for the road, while the GR GT3 translates the same technical DNA into a machine designed for FIA GT3 homologation and customer racing.
At the core of both projects is a clear philosophy: performance developed on the track, refined through real racing experience, and transferred directly to road and competition cars.
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A “special team” led by Morizo
Development of the GR GT and GR GT3 has been entrusted to a dedicated special team coordinated directly by Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, better known in the motorsport world as Master Driver Morizo. The group brings together professional drivers Hiroaki Ishiura, Tatsuya Kataoka and Naoya Gamou, gentleman driver Daisuke Toyoda, TGR test drivers, and engineers specialising in chassis, aerodynamics and powertrain development.
The goal was not only outright performance, but also confidence and clarity at the limit. Both cars are designed to be fast yet readable, with progressive responses that allow drivers of different experience levels to build trust and consistency.
GR GT: a flagship born from racing
The GR GT represents the new pinnacle of the Toyota Gazoo Racing road car lineup. Conceived from the outset as a race car adapted for street use, it aims to deliver high performance without sacrificing everyday usability.
Development started from fundamentals such as seating position and body height, both lowered as much as possible to achieve the desired center of gravity. The layout is front-engine, rear-wheel drive, with heavy components – engine, transmission, battery and fuel tank – positioned low and close to the center of the car.
The result is a configuration intended to align the driver’s center of gravity with that of the car itself, enhancing the sensation of unity between driver and machine during spirited driving.
All-aluminum chassis with CFRP body panels
The GR GT introduces Toyota’s first fully aluminum chassis. The objective was to reduce mass while maintaining high torsional rigidity, achieved through a high-strength welded aluminum structure combined with aluminum and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) body panels.
This lightweight yet stiff platform is designed to withstand track loads while ensuring comfort and durability in daily driving. The sporting intent is underlined by bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, developed specifically for the GR GT:
- Front: 265/35 ZR20
- Rear: 325/30 ZR20
Hybrid twin-turbo V8 and rear-mounted transmission
Under the hood sits a new-generation 3,998 cc twin-turbo V8 paired with an electric motor in a hybrid configuration. Preliminary figures indicate:
- System output: 650 hp
- Maximum torque: 850 Nm
- Top speed: over 320 km/h
The hybrid system integrates a motor-generator with the transmission, positioned ahead of the gearbox to compensate for torque lag during acceleration and gear changes.
Equally distinctive is the transmission layout. The GR GT uses a newly developed 8-speed automatic gearbox with an oil-bath clutch instead of a traditional torque converter, combined with a mechanical limited-slip differential. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a final drive that reverses rotation before the prop shaft, a solution chosen to shorten the wheelbase and optimize weight distribution.
Carbon-ceramic brakes and multi-stage stability control
Braking is handled by a Brembo carbon-ceramic system on both axles, developed in collaboration with drivers experienced in endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
The stability control system features multi-stage adjustment, allowing drivers to tailor intervention levels according to skill, track conditions and weather. This race-derived approach brings the logic of TGR competition cars directly to the road-going GR GT.
Sound design has received equal attention. The exhaust geometry is engineered to deliver a distinctly motorsport-inspired twin-turbo V8 character, making acoustics another key channel of communication between driver and car.
Inside, form follows function. The cockpit prioritizes ergonomics and usability over visual excess, shaped through extensive feedback from professional and gentleman drivers.
- Steering wheel, primary controls and paddles always within easy reach
- Displays readable under heavy braking and full acceleration
- Visibility optimized for track use without compromising daily driving
Controls related to vehicle dynamics are clustered around the steering wheel to minimize distraction and keep the driver’s focus on the road or circuit.
Toyota GR GT3: TGR’s new weapon for FIA GT3 racing
The Toyota GR GT3 is derived directly from the GR GT’s structural and mechanical base, re-engineered to meet FIA GT3 regulations and the demands of customer racing.
- The same 3,998 cc twin-turbo V8
- Shared aluminum chassis architecture
- Low-mounted double wishbone suspension
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
- Approximate dimensions: 4,785 mm length, 2,050 mm width, 1,090 mm height
Designed in collaboration with both professional racers and gentleman drivers, the GR GT3 aims to be competitive, consistent and approachable — qualities essential in modern GT3 racing.
