The GR GT serves as Toyota Gazoo Racing’s new flagship sportscar developed as a road-legal racecar first. The GR GT3, meanwhile, is the pure form—engineered to meet FIA GT3 specifications.

Regardless, the GR GT and GR GT3 strive to provide the ultimate driving experience by way of enhanced capabilities centered on three key elements: a low center of gravity, low weight with high rigidity, and the pursuit of aerodynamic performance.

Both unveiled models feature new technologies and manufacturing methods, including Toyota’s first all-aluminum body frame and a 4-liter, V8 twin-turbo engine.

The GR GT and GR GT3’s development―starting with the vehicle concept formulation stage―was advanced under a one-team approach centered on Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo, in which professional drivers Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, and Naoya Gamou, gentleman driver Daisuke Toyoda, and in-house evaluation drivers worked in unison with engineers.

Positioned as flagships in the footsteps of the Toyota 2000GT of yesteryear and the Lexus LFA, one of the aims of the development of the GR GT and GR GT3 was to preserve and pass on “the secret sauce of car-making” to the next generation as “Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu” (a ritual in which a Shinto shrine is periodically rebuilt). The two models are the result of veterans of development of the Lexus LFA transferring skills and techniques to younger members, the active adoption of new, Toyota-first technologies for enhanced vehicle performance, and the taking on of numerous unprecedented challenges.

The GR GT’s manifestation of its driver-first approach starts with 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 equipped with a hybrid system. Toyota says they are targeting 650 horsepower (or greater) and at least 850 Nm of torque.

From there, the GR GT features a low center of gravity as well as a 45-55 front-to-rear weight distribution. Particular attention was then paid to adopting a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive powertrain layout for ease of handling when driving the vehicle to its limit. The center of gravity of heavy components, such as the engine with dry-sump lubrication, rear-mounted transaxle, and other major mechanisms, have been significantly lowered through optimized positioning. Both the driver’s and car’s centers of gravity have been made roughly identical by pursuing an ideal driving position aimed at enhancing the sense of car-driver unity and handling ease.

As for low weight with high rigidity, which constitutes the second key element, the GR GT features Toyota’s first all-aluminum body frame. Additionally, the appropriate use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), plastic, and other materials in the body panels has resulted in a strong yet light body. The target weight has been set at 1,750 kilograms or lower.

Measuring in at 4,820 mm in length, 2,000 mm in width, and 1,195 mm in height (wheelbase is 2,725 mm), the GR GT’s styling is done for aerodynamic performance and cooling. In fact, designers established and finalized these metrics first before applying any of the exterior styling elements.

Interior styling, as well, was done based solely on ergonomics and at achieving the optimal driving position from a professional driver’s perspective and visibility needed for at-the-limit driving without detriment to its suitability for road-going use.

Toyota says that in developing the GR GT and GR GT3, Toyota Gazoo Racing used driving simulator-assisted vehicle research and development, common in race car development. This helped them refine fundamental characteristics from the outset. In addition, extensive real-world testing was done not only on test courses, such as the one at Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama, but also at circuits around the world, including Fuji Speedway and the Nürburgring, enabling verification of at-the-limit driving performance and durability. GT GR testing also took place on public roads to give the model the ability to provide exhilaration, ease of handling, and peace of mind in everyday use.

TGR is continuing development of the GR GT and GR GT3 toward launching them around 2027.