Since the demise of the Lexus LFA, all hope has been just about lost that Toyota would ever produce something of supercar standards again. But with a new Supra on the horizon, and a new performance division – Toyota Gazoo Racing – established, Toyota might be back in the performance game before we know it. Unveiled at the 2018 Tokyo Auto Salon, this is the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Super Sport Concept – a LMP-inspired supercar with technology derived from Toyota’s exploits in the World Endurance Championship.
The GR Super Sport Concept previews a next generation sports car from Toyota Gazoo Racing, and incorporates technology developed for the Toyota TS050 Hybrid that competes in the World Endurance Championship.
Visually, the GR Super Sport Concept takes design direction from LMP (Le Mans Prototype) racecars, with pronounced flowing bodywork aiding aerodynamic efficiency. But beneath the swooping exterior, the GR Super Sport Concept houses a 2.4-litre twin-turbocharged lean-burn V6 engine, paired with Toyota Hybrid System – Racing (THS-R) electric motors for a combined output of 735kW (1000 metric horsepower).
No gearbox details are given, but expect all-wheel drive to feature, as both front and rear tyres are 330mm in width – though these are currentl 330/710R18 racing tyres from Bridgestone.
Shigeki Tomoyama, president of GAZOO Racing Company, said, “Rather than developing production cars into sports cars, we aim to work out how to incorporate the know-how developed through races and rallies into production cars amid various restrictions, and this is how competing contributes to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s efforts toward making ever-better cars.” He went on to say that “this is the starting point for Toyota’s completely new challenge to develop sports cars from active race cars.”
But the GR Super Sport Concept will likely be heading to production. Tomoyama said, “Although it will be some time before you all have the opportunity to get behind the wheel, I hope that the GR Super Sport Concept will give you a taste of what we aim to achieve with our next-generation sports cars.”
No other details have been given about the GR Super Sport Concept, but Toyota’s commitment towards melding racing development with road-going cars deserves applause. More so, the concept establishes their intent to turn Toyota Gazoo Racing into a competitive performance division that might finally bring back the excitement Toyota has been missing for so long.
