Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 29 May 2026
Following in the footsteps of the hallowed Lexus LFA, Toyota’s new GR GT was never going to be cheap, or easy to attain.
When the GT first broke cover, Toyota executives from North America provided a ballpark pricing figure in the $225,000 – $250,000 USD region.
Directly converting that to NZD gets you $380,000 – $420,000, and that isn’t accounting for any of the logistical cost involved.
So stating that the GR GT won’t be cheap if it eventually lands in New Zealand is an understatement, but that seems to be the start of the process.
When speaking to Autoblog, Gazoo Racing Sports Car Program Director Jeff Bal explained how the purchase process will take place.
“We’ve been studying, and we had to do a lot of homework because, frankly, it’s a customer we’ve never seen in our stores, whether it’s a Toyota or Lexus showroom,” he said.
In the US, the GT will be sold through Lexus showrooms, and require a specially trained “GR Meister” to guide you through the process.
“The Meister will be the first point of contact; they will hold their hand from start to finish, not just delivery of the car,” Bal said. “They’re a friend for life as long as you have the car.”
The last statement makes the Meister feel less like a friend, and more like a therapist that will try to gauge your intentions with the car.
It’s clear Toyota is trying to avoid customers wanting to flip the car, and make a quick profit, in a similar fashion to what Ford did with the revived GT.
“There is going to be a lot of vetting. It’s going to feel like an interview process for a customer,” Bal added.
It’s unclear as to whether or not customers will have to sign a non-flip contract like Ford made its customers sign.
Toyota is making no secret about how it wants these GR GTs to end up in the hands of true enthusiasts that will use it as it was designed to be.
With a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 producing more than 470kW and 850Nm, it will be Toyota’s biggest swing at the performance market in a long time.
