Toyota’s new V8 super sports car could be extremely rare

(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – Developing a viable business model for a supercar is difficult. It takes a lot of calculations to convince supervisors and controllers that such a project is worthwhile. The GR GT is a highly customized product that has nothing in common with any existing Toyota model. The development team basically had to start from scratch.

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However, economies of scale could be achieved since the new performance flagship is basically a homologation model of the GR-GT3 race car. Nevertheless, the development costs are likely to have been enormous. Recently, the Japanese have preferred joint ventures with other automakers for sports car projects to reduce costs. The last Supra was closely related to the BMW Z4, while the GR86 was developed together with Subaru.

As with any respectable supercar, the production numbers of the GR GT are likely to be low. How low? Japan’s Magazine X reports (via Car Sensor) that only around 500 units are planned to be built – making the GR GT as rare as the legendary Lexus LFA.

Whether this low volume is enough to recoup the investment is known only to Toyota. And speaking of the LFA: Many forget that Lexus struggled to sell the V10 supercar, even though only 500 units were produced. Unimaginable given the model’s current cult status. Hopefully, things will go better for the new mid-engine car in the interest of the parent company – but that will strongly depend on the price.

It will probably cost more than 200,000 US dollars

When Lexus’ only supercar launched in 2010, the entry price was 375,000 euros. Toyota has not yet released prices for the GR GT but already hints that it will likely be in the “200,000 euros plus” range. It is not expected to be as expensive as the LFA. Incidentally, the latter is supposed to return as a fully electric supercar later this decade.

Photo gallery: Toyota GR GT (2027)

Returning to the report from Magazine X: The GR GT is unlikely to remain a single model variant. The medium mentions a “tuned version,” which could indicate it is related to a more aggressive prototype recently spotted during test drives on the Nordschleife. Whether this is some kind of track package or a full-fledged GRMN model is currently pure speculation.

A GR GT Targa is probably conceivable

That’s not all. Toyota is reportedly planning a third street-legal variant of the GR GT with a targa roof, which might bring back the name Aero Top. It is unclear whether it would have a manually removable roof panel or an electrically retractable roof. Given the coupe design, there seems to be hardly enough space for a folding roof mechanism – unless Toyota extensively redesigns the rear. However, that would further increase costs.

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We would bet that the Targa will have a removable roof panel and the rear will remain unchanged – just like the Supra Aero Top in the past. Presumably, there would also be a special storage space for the roof in case of sudden rain.

Patience is therefore required, as the regular GR GT will not come to market until “around 2027” according to Toyota. Sharper derivatives could follow later in the lifecycle.

Motor1 thinks: Even though a Toyota priced over 200,000 euros will be hard to sell, the GR GT is anything but an ordinary Camry or RAV4. With a 4.0-liter biturbo V8, exotic design, and direct connection to motorsport, it has all the ingredients to appeal to affluent enthusiasts.

A more uncompromising version and an open model would further increase the chances of success. Officially, however, GRMN and Aero Top only exist once Toyota confirms them. Either way, the regular coupe can hardly come soon enough – especially since a few years ago the GR Super Sport Concept already promised a real hypercar, which, as is well known, never became reality.

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Source: Magazine XCar Sensor