A New GR Flagship Takes Center Stage
Toyota has officially unveiled its new flagship performance models – the GR GT and GR GT3 – at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 in Japan. Even better, both cars did a demo on the tarmac for the showgoers to witness. The GR GT serves as the brand's new flagship road car, succeeding the Lexus LFA, while the GR GT3 has been developed specifically to meet global GT3 racing regulations.
During the public demonstration, both prototypes were driven by Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, Naoya Gamo, and gentleman driver Daisuke Toyoda. Visually, the GR GT stood out for its proportions, bearing a resemblance to the Dodge Viper thanks to its wide stance, low-slung profile, and long hood.
Designed With the Racetrack in Mind
Under the hood is a newly developed 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a single electric motor, delivering a claimed combined output of 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission—a setup that was put on display during the public demo, where drivers were seen performing donuts and burnouts.
Toyota also emphasizes the GR GT’s low center of gravity, which theoretically enhances handling precision and cornering stability. Supporting this is the brand’s first all-aluminum frame, aimed at reducing mass, along with the use of carbon fiber in key areas such as the hood and roof.
To further highlight the cars' performance, Toyota utilized a short outdoor demo course at this year’s TAS. While the compact layout naturally limited the extent of the demonstration, it still allowed attendees to hear and see the GR GT in action—including a casual standing-start sprint between the two performance variants.
GR Enters Its Next Chapter
Official pricing has yet to be announced, though GR GT Project Manager Takashi Doi indicated that the car is expected to be priced in line with current GT3 offerings. Using the Porsche 911 GT3 as a benchmark, the GR GT could land around the $230,000 mark. Toyota has also suggested that it intends to avoid making the GR GT an ultra-exclusive halo car, an approach the company has since said it regretted with the Lexus LFA.
As for the GR GT3, the next step is preparing it for the racetrack. Once homologated, it will take on similarly specified rivals such as the Ferrari 296 GT3 and the Ford Mustang GT3. The timing is fitting, as Toyota’s previous GT3 entry, the Lexus RC F GT3, is being phased out.
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