2027 Toyota/Lexus GR GT sports car unveiled for the first time

Toyota is developing a new GT3 racing car that will serve as the basis for a high-end sports car that can be driven on public roads, and a prototype of the public road-going model has been spotted for the first time.

The racing car will be unveiled in concept at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon and has previously been tested at some of the world's leading race tracks, including Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Competitions in which the racing car could compete include the IMSA Sports Car Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. The race car is expected to debut in competition in 2026, and the road car is expected to be launched around the same time, with a 2027 model year.

Toyota executives have hinted at a road-going version of the race car; since the GT3 class mandates that race cars be derived from road cars, a new Toyota race car not based on the current road car that could eventually run on public roads It was inevitable that a model would be produced.

What is not clear is whether the car would be sold as a Toyota or as a Lexus, but most rumors point to the latter. Lexus has also unveiled an electric supercar concept car with proportions similar to a race car, perhaps hinting at some kind of joint development.

Development is still in a relatively early stage, and the prototype design is still very close to a race car, so the final design may evolve on the road to production. For example, the windows are made of polycarbonate.

However, there are some distinct differences. Road cars have smaller rear wings than race cars and use conventional rear-mounted exhaust tips instead of the side exhausts of race cars. Front and rear fascias are also unique, and road cars have much smaller front splitters. Road cars are also equipped with public road tires, in this case Michelin.

Toyota has not revealed details about the race car, but it is expected to have a V-8 engine under the hood. The road car will likely have a V-8 engine as well, perhaps with even more power, since there is no balance-of-performance rule. There are also rumors that the road car will feature hybrid technology.

A possible car name is GR GT, trademarked by Toyota, where “GR” stands for Gazoo Racing, the official motorsports division of Toyota and Lexus. The race car is expected to be called the GR GT3.

Stay tuned for updates as development progresses.