Toyota Unveils GR GT and GR GT3 Sports Cars

Toyota unveils new sports cars for the racetrack and everyday use: The GR GT and GR GT3 feature a V8 hybrid system and will be launched in 2027.

Toyota's motorsport division, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), has unveiled two new sports cars that follow in the tradition of the 2000 GT and the Lexus LFA. The Toyota GR GT is 4,820 mm long, 2,000 mm wide, and 1,195 mm deep. The wheelbase is 2,725 mm. The road-legal race car is based on an all-aluminum body frame. Its weight of 1,750 kg is made possible by the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The weight distribution is 45:55. The design of the GR GT was developed primarily with aerodynamics in mind and is based on an "aerodynamic model" that was created first. The interior, with its flat-bottomed steering wheel, has been tailored for ergonomics on the racetrack and in everyday use, and features a touchscreen on the center console that is positioned relatively low.

The transaxle sports car, which has a top speed of at least 320 km/h, is powered by a hybrid system. It combines a newly developed, twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with an electric motor. The maximum system output of the hybrid drive is said to be 478 kW (650 hp) or more. Toyota specifies the maximum system torque as at least 850 Nm. The bore and stroke of the combustion engine are 87.5 x 83.1, with the short stroke reducing the overall height of the engine. The turbos are positioned inside the "hot V".

Toyota Bets on Lightweight Construction with CFRP and Aluminum

Power is transmitted to the rear axle via a CFRP torsion shaft. This is connected to a transaxle unit with an electric motor and a newly developed 8-speed automatic transmission with wet start clutch. A bevel gear on the rear transaxle reverses the direction of power via a mechanical limited-slip differential after it has been transmitted from the engine via the electric motor and automatic transmission. The electric motor is designed to compensate for delays in acceleration and shifting.

The chassis consists of a new, low-mounted double wishbone system with forged aluminum control arms at the front and rear. Braking is provided by carbon-ceramic disc brakes. The front tires are 265/35 ZR20, while the rear tires are 325/30 ZR20. The GT3 is slightly shorter at 4,785 mm in length, but 2,050 mm wide and only 1,090 mm high. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports cars presented as prototypes are scheduled to hit the market in 2027. In addition, a battery-electric version has been developed in the form of the Lexus LFA.

This is a partly automated translation of this German article.