Toyota teases all-new GR GT supercar ahead of unveiling
Words Andrew Sluys | Images Supplied
Despite being one of the biggest automakers in the world, Toyota has a strange history when it comes to supercars.
Its history can be traced back to the late 1990s, when a handful of road-going versions of its Le Mans racer — the GT-One (TS020) were built.
Aside from the unofficial SARD MC8-R, Toyota focused on sports cars in the performance segment, until the Lexus LFA came along.
Then there were the rumours of the GR Super Sport, a homologated version of Toyota’s Le Mans-winning GR010, but that project fell flat.
Now Toyota is back in the spotlight as its planning to reveal a full-fat supercar in just a couple of days.
Dubbed the GR GT, the world got its first glimpse of this machine in a teaser video recently released by Toyota.
Despite the dark video, the vehicle’s long bonnet, wide rear guards, and Le Mans-like lights can be seen.
Said to be inspired by the Lexus LFA, it’s clear that this GT takes more from a traditional Grand Tourer than the hypercar concepts that lap Le Mans.
It has also been confirmed by Toyota that this GR GT will be powered by a petrol V8 engine, which can be heard in the short video.
Details of this engine are yet to be released, but rumours point to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo unit.
As a spiritual successor to the Toyota 2000GT with its inline six and the V10-powered Lexus LFA, a V8 in the GR GT makes sense.
Toyota will unveil the GR GT in full on December 5.
