After last year's flurry of new supercar launches, things have slowed down in the recent months, and, perhaps, it was time for one of the major manufacturers to lift our spirits in these dark winter months and present us with a flagship supercar that, perhaps, none of us will contemplate buying, but every one will be comparing with latest performance/super cars (ZR1, Temerario) in the increasingly undecided supercar hierarchy.
GR GT was revealed together with its GT3 racing version - GR GT3. The road car was developed from the start with racing in mind and all design decisions were governed by functional needs - downforce, low center of gravity and handling characteristics.
GR GT is built on rigid aluminum frame and fitted with carbon fiber and plastic composite panels. Just like the body structure, engine is also new - 4 liter V8 twin turbo with electric motor. Toyota have migrated many of their "normal" road cars to turbocharged power, but none so far had 8 cylinders. It remains to be seen whether derivatives of this engine will find their way into Toyota or Lexus full size sedans and SUVs. And whether this time Toyota didn't forget to clean out "manufacturing debris" from the engine blocks... (sorry Tundra owners...).
Toyota released power and torque data (650 PS and 850 Nm total system power and torque) is provisional, as this car is still in late development stages. Toyota may decide to revise these numbers upward if certain benchmark performance is not met or there is new competition that warrants upping the performance.
Competitiveness in market may not be primary objective with this car, as there are rumors of it having rather steep price tag. Toyota seems to be very focused on delivering performance and results in GT3 racing, spending whatever it costs to achieve these objectives. GR GT will never be a mass produced profit-making car, and its low production volume in some ways is helping it, since buyers of exclusivity tend to be more willing to absorb development costs.
From LMP1 to World Rally Championship to GT3 - it is great to see Toyota investing in racing and making their brand more attractive to younger more passionate car buyer. Before the GR86, GR Yaris and GR Supra there was a "dark period" when Toyota had nothing to offer in this segment. This has changed and I am sure it is already paying dividends for Toyota brand and also for the bottom line.
