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A right-hand-drive version of Toyota's monster hybrid V8 supercar looks to be coming – and it could command a $400,000-plus price if sold in Australia.
The Toyota GR GT supercar is on the wishlist for Australian showrooms as a twin-turbo V8 hybrid flagship for the car giant's Gazoo Racing performance line-up.
If green-lit for Australia, it would almost certainly be the most expensive Toyota ever sold new in Australia, possibly close to the $449,100 before on-road costs Porsche charges for a 911 GT3.
"I'd love to see that car come to Australia," newly-appointed Toyota Australia sales and marketing chief John Pappas told local media, including Drive.
"That is gonna be unbelievably great for the brand, that GR. Nothing to announce today, but yeah, we'll definitely look at that if it can become available for Australia."
Unlike fellow right-hand-drive nations Japan and the UK, but much like Australia, South Africa does not allow the sale of new left-hand-drive cars, so the GR GT would need to be built with the steering wheel on the right-hand side to be introduced there.
It opens the door to an Australian introduction, but buyers hoping to secure a GR GT for local roads will need deep pockets.
Toyota GR GT project manager Takashi Doi told US outlet The Drive pointed to "a lot of GT3 cars on the market today" as "a reference" for how much the GR GT could cost.
Among the most prominent road cars with a GT3 racing equivalent is the Porsche 911 GT3, which is priced from $449,100 plus on-road costs in Australia.
The Mercedes-AMG GT is priced from $418,900 plus on-roads in GT63 Pro form, bookended by two other street-legal counterparts to GT3 cars: a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 at $336,000 plus on-roads, and a Ferrari 296 GTB last priced at $604,000 plus on-roads.
It would suggest a local RRP for the Toyota GR GT in the $400,000 range, more than double the price of the current most expensive Toyota ever sold in Australia, the $172,990 Tundra Platinum pick-up.
Still, it's cheaper than the $700,000 RRP commanded by each of the 10 Lexus LFA supercars allocated to Australia in 2011-12.
Lexus famously struggled to sell the LFA in many key markets, despite only 500 being produced globally – something that could deter Toyota from trying again with the GR GT.
The final Lexus LFA was reported as sold in Australia in June 2023, though it was not actually delivered to a customer, and instead marked as sold so it could be counted on the Register of Approved Vehicles that would allow it to be registered for road use.
In the US, the GR GT – which does not wear Toyota badges – will be sold in select Lexus dealers.
Powering the GR GT is a new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 engine matched with an electric motor integrated into the rear-mounted, eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, driving the rear wheels.
Outputs are claimed at 478kW and 850Nm "or greater", for a claimed top speed in excess of 320km/h.
Performance hardware confirmed by Toyota includes 20-inch wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, and an all-aluminium frame that delivers a 45:55 front-to-rear weight distribution.
It has been developed with GT3 racing in mind, but it is not planned to eventually replace the GR Supra in Australia's V8 Supercars Championship race series.
"Well, no, right now we're focused on the GR Supra, and that's the vehicle for us for the next five years, and we're very excited about what we've got in front of us," Pappas told media.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
