4 days ago
23
Manual gearboxes and internal-combustion engines – powered by petrol, hydrogen or synthetic fuels – are here to stay for high-performance Toyotas.
Toyota will not turn its back on customers still interested in high-performance Gazoo Racing cars with internal combustion engines and manual transmissions, a top executive has declared.
While they may trade premium petrol for synthetic fuels, fast Toyotas driven by liquid not electricity are here to stay as long as emissions rules allow, the company's Australian sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley told media.
The Japanese brand has long expressed its commitment to traditional engines, as other marques rushed to electric cars in the wake of the pandemic before pulling back as customer demand cooled.
Hanley said while an automatic transmission is now optional on the GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches, the manual is still predicted to account for 65 per cent of the former's sales, and 50 per cent of the latter.
"As you can see, we are not predicting in any way, shape or form the demise of the manual gearbox anytime soon," said the executive.
"We believe that even as we transition to electrification, there is still room to satisfy dyed-in-the-wool performance-car lovers.
"And these enthusiasts are not a dying breed. Our GR demographics show that younger buyers are still drawn to petrol performance cars.
"While we've focused on future electrification for the rest of our model line-up, we plan to keep GR about the sounds, the smells, and the feel of a combustion engine. That snap, crackle and pop we all love so much.
"It's that tactile connection between driver and machine that ignites the passions of a car enthusiast, and we have no intention at all of abandoning it in the foreseeable future.
"Combustion engines and manual transmissions will be around for a long, long time."
Hanley told media the company is considering a range of high-performance parts for local showrooms to enhance the performance of existing GR cars, similar to Hyundai's N Performance Parts range.
"We're also looking at the potential of selling performance packs and motorsport-focused parts, so that will be the expansion of the GR brand.
"We want GR to be a one-stop shop for every car enthusiast's performance needs."
Reports indicate Toyota is working on an expanded range of GR performance cars, including the return of the Celica name, a future mid-engined model, and new generations of the GR Supra and GR86.
The brand unveiled a GR Yaris prototype in January with a new-generation 2.0-litre turbo engine mounted in the middle of the car, about which Hanley said: "I'll leave it to you to speculate as to what that might mean, but who knows what the future holds."
Toyota is also interested in alternate technologies for performance vehicles, including electric power, having showcased simulated manual gearboxes for EVs.
"Toyota is actively researching carbon-neutral synthetic fuels and hydrogen internal combustion engines. And I have no doubt that we will also turn our attention to delivering sports-focused EVs in the future," said Hanley.
"Of course, GR models make up a small proportion of our total sales output. But they have a massive impact on our brand."
Hanley said the bulk of the "exterior design" of the race car has been completed – after a prototype was shown last year – and the team is "currently working on the engine and aero packages," as well as "putting the finishing touches to the body."
"Head office is taking a keen interest in the development of our Supercars program," the executive told Australian media.
"We [Toyota Australia] have access to the global expertise of Gazoo Racing, and its army of engineers and technicians. We also have access to the global range of current and future performance cars and parts."
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
