Toyota Gazoo Racing and Lexus hold world premiere of the GR GT, GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Concept 

• Three models positioned as flagships in the manner of the Toyota 2000GT of the 1960s and the original Lexus LFA have their world premiere. 

• An embodiment of Toyota’s “Shikinen Sengu”, preserving and passing on the “secret sauce of car-making” to the next generation – one of the cars’ development aims. 

• The GR GT is a new GR-brand flagship sports car that further advances the making of ever-better motorsports-bred cars. 

• The GR GT3 is a GR GT-based, FIA GT3-spec race car for customers who want to win races. 

• The Lexus LFA Concept is a concept model aimed at creating a BEV sports car that exceeds customers’ expectations. 

• Development driven by engineers responding as a top priority to the perspectives of Toyota’s Master Driver (Morizo) and development drivers (professionals and a gentleman driver). 

The GR GT, GR GT3, and Lexus LFA Concept were born from the conviction of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo, that certain car-making skills must be preserved and passed on to the next generation. Together, the three models symbolise Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu. 

Shikinen Sengu is a traditional Japanese ritual in which a Shinto^* shrine’s core structures and elements are rebuilt every few decades. The ritual involves not only rebuilding the shrine itself but also recrafting its furnishings and the ceremonial garments it houses. As such, it serves as a platform for artisans of a wide range of traditional Japanese crafts – including architecture, blacksmithing and weaving – to pass on their skills to the next generation. 

The three models unveiled today are being positioned as TMC’s flagship sports cars, in the footsteps of the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA. They embody Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu through the making of sports cars by preserving and passing on to the next generation fundamental car-making skills and incorporating new technologies. All three are being developed together under a shared philosophy centred on three key elements: a low centre of gravity, low weight with high rigidity and the pursuit of aerodynamic performance. 

GR GT: A new flagship pursuing exceptional performance 

The GR GT is a new flagship sports car that further advances TGR’s philosophy of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars. A diverse range of drivers, including Master Driver Morizo, professional drivers Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, and Naoya Gamo, gentleman driver Daisuke Toyoda, and in-house evaluation drivers, was involved in its development from the concept formulation stage. All aspects of development prioritised the driver’s perspective, starting with the driving position. The model is still being refined, with drivers repeatedly putting it through the “hone, drive to failure, and repair” cycle, as with other GR products. 

Master Driver Morizo urged the development team onward with calls of “I want you to go all out,” and “I want you to push even further.” In response, those involved overcame an unprecedented number of challenges across every domain, from development to manufacturing, including the adoption of Toyota-first new technologies. 

Centred on front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle packaging, the GR GT features a very low centre of gravity and uses Toyota’s first all-aluminium body frame for low weight with high rigidity, together with styling that gives paramount priority to aerodynamics. Its power unit is a newly developed 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo with dry-sump lubrication, while its drivetrain uses a carbon-fibre torque tube and a transaxle layout. The rear-located transaxle is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, a single electric motor, and a mechanical, limited-slip differential. The result is driving performance that is easy to handle for drivers of all skill levels and enables full interaction with the car. 

GR GT3: a new FIA GT3-spec race car built with a driver-first approach 

Based on the GR GT, the GR GT3 was engineered to compete in races worldwide. Created in accordance with FIA GT3 regulations – the top category for production-vehicle-based customer motorsports – it is aimed at both professional and gentleman drivers who want to win and is easy to drive for anyone behind the wheel. Its aluminium space-frame chassis, low-mount double wishbone suspension, and 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine are all drawn from the GR GT. 

Going beyond simply aiming to make the GR GT3 a high-performance race car, TGR is also preparing to establish a support operation for customers competing in international GT3 series events. 

Lexus LFA Concept: sights set on being a true BEV sports car 

Created to be a true battery electric vehicle (BEV) sports car that exceeds customer expectations, the Lexus LFA Concept is a concept model that, like the GR GT and GR GT3, was developed under a one-team approach with Master Driver Morizo. It inherits and evolves the LFA’s spirit, pursuing a balance of styling and driving performance. By leveraging technology and car-making skills that must be preserved, Lexus is transforming the perception that BEV sports cars are still in their infancy and is taking on the challenge of shaping the future of car-making. 

For details on the GR GT and GR GT3, please refer to a related press release to be issued by TGR. For details on the Lexus LFA Concept, please refer to a related press release to be issued by Lexus. TGR and Lexus intend to continue releasing information on the three models as it becomes available. 

^*A Japanese indigenous religion centered on devotion to and worship of spirits or deities believed to inhabit elements of nature 

ENDS