Toyota Motor Corporation recently unveiled three significant new vehicles in Woven City, Japan: the GR GT3, the GR GT, and the Lexus LFA Concept. These introductions underscore Toyota Gazoo Racing's (TGR) commitment to high-performance vehicles, integrating advanced engineering and a 'driver-first' philosophy spearheaded by Chairman Akio Toyoda.

The GR GT stands as Toyota’s new flagship, road-legal supercar, representing a direct lineage to iconic vehicles like the 1967 2000GT and the 2010 Lexus LFA. Unlike its predecessors, the GR GT embraces a supercar-standard 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, enhanced with Toyota's hallmark hybridization. This powertrain, based on the new G20E engine family, features an oversquare design with an 87.5mm bore and 83.1mm stroke, promoting high-revving capabilities. It also incorporates a 'hot-vee' configuration, placing turbochargers within the engine's valley, and Toyota's D-4 port- and direct-injection system for optimized combustion. With a targeted total-system output of 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, the GR GT promises formidable performance. To maintain a sleek, low profile, the engine utilizes dry-sump lubrication and a thinner oil pan, while an 8-speed planetary automatic transmission is transaxle-mounted at the rear, connected by a carbon-fiber torque tube to achieve an optimal 45:55 front/rear weight balance. A wet-clutch launch device and a hybrid motor are strategically placed within this transaxle system. The vehicle also boasts Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and Brembo carbon discs for superior handling and braking.

The GR GT's chassis is built upon Toyota’s first all-aluminum body frame, prioritizing low mass and high rigidity, further augmented by carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) panels. Engineers employed an 'aerodynamics first' approach, shaping the vehicle's design around airflow management to achieve a top speed of 199 mph or greater. The interior is meticulously engineered for the driver, with intuitive control placement and optimized visibility. Preliminary specifications for the GR GT include a length of 189.8 inches, a width of 78.7 inches, a height of 47.0 inches, and a wheelbase of 107.3 inches.

Alongside its road-legal counterpart, TGR also revealed the all-new GR GT3, an FIA GT3-spec customer race car directly engineered from the GR GT platform. This track-only model is designed for competitive motorsports in prestigious series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and Japan's Super GT championship. While sharing the GR GT's low-center-of-gravity packaging, lightweight construction, and aerodynamic priorities, the GR GT3 removes the hybrid motor and battery, as these are generally prohibited in most GT3 competitions. It will likely feature a higher-performance sequential racing transmission and differential, with its transaxle layout facilitating easy component changes. The GR GT3's configuration, calibration, and performance levels are tailored to FIA Balance of Performance (BoP) rules, meaning its engine output, while derived from the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, will be adjusted to an estimated 550-600 hp, contrasting the GR GT's 641 hp. Consequently, the GR GT3 will be considerably lighter than the GR GT's 3,858-pound curb weight, aiming for under 3,000 pounds due to the removal of the hybrid system, sound deadening, and extensive use of carbon fiber and other composites.

The GR GT3 meets FIA GT3 dimensional and performance requirements, being an inch shorter in length, four inches shorter in height, and two inches wider than the GR GT. Its visual design is aggressively purposeful, featuring a vented hood, side-exit exhausts, a low-slung stance, and prominent widebody front fender vents reminiscent of 'Godzilla's back.' It rides on sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires mounted on BBS center-lock racing wheels, complemented by a massive swan-neck rear wing designed to maximize downforce. The interior is purely functional, with a fully caged, race-ready setup including Racetech bucket seats and Bosch racing displays, prioritizing performance tuning over comfort. Toyota's development methodology for both vehicles integrated simulator-based development, system-bench testing, and extensive real-world evaluation at circuits like Fuji Speedway and the Nürburgring. TGR is also preparing a comprehensive support structure for customer teams to maximize the GR GT3's usability and competitiveness against rivals such as Porsche's 911 GT3 R, BMW's M4 GT3 EVO, and Ferrari's 296 GT3 EVO, among others.

Regarding acquisition, details for both the GR GT and GR GT3 remain scarce. In the U.S. and Canada, select Lexus dealers meeting Gazoo Racing sales and service requirements will support customers, as Toyota has not established dedicated GR sales operations in these markets. For serious GT3 racers, contacting a local TRD dealer or the Toyota GR Garage in Mooresville, North Carolina, is recommended. Both vehicles are still in development, with a potential market launch for the GR GT3 appearing logical around 2027. Toyota also acknowledges the possibility of future, higher-performance versions, similar to past LFA Nürburgring Edition and GRMN models.