Toyota GR GT, GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Concept Unveiled
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) and the Lexus brand held the world premiere of TGR’s GR GT and GR GT3 and Lexus’ Lexus LFA Concept.
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Master Driver Morizo, drove the vision behind these three new flagship sports cars. He believes Toyota must preserve essential car-making skills and pass them on to the next generation. The GR GT, GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Concept, therefore, symbolise “Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu”.
Shikinen Sengu is a traditional Japanese shrine ritual during which a Shinto shrine’s core structures and elements are rebuilt every few decades. The ritual calls on artisans to rebuild the shrine and to recraft its furnishings and ceremonial garments. This process helps masters of architecture, blacksmithing, weaving and other crafts transfer their expertise to the next generation. Toyota draws a clear parallel between this tradition and its approach to high-performance car development.
TMC positions the GR GT, GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Concept as flagship sports cars in the footsteps of the Toyota 2000GT and the Lexus LFA. The three models express “Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu” by combining preserved fundamentals with new technologies. TGR and Lexus develop them together under a shared philosophy that prioritises a low centre of gravity, low weight with high rigidity, and aerodynamic performance.
The GR GT serves as a new TGR flagship that elevates the brand’s motorsports-bred philosophy. Master Driver Morizo, professional drivers Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura and Naoya Gamo, gentleman driver Daisuke Toyoda and in-house evaluation drivers all shaped the concept from the earliest stages. The team prioritised the driver’s perspective across the programme, starting with the driving position. Engineers and drivers continue to refine the GR GT through the “hone, drive to failure, and repair” cycle that defines other GR products.
Master Driver Morizo challenged the team with “I want you to go all out,” and “I want you to push even further.” The group responded by tackling an unprecedented range of development and manufacturing hurdles, including the introduction of Toyota-first technologies.
The GR GT uses front-engine, rear-wheel-drive packaging, resulting in a very low centre of gravity. Toyota equips it with its first all-aluminium body frame to deliver low weight and high rigidity, then shapes the styling around aerodynamic efficiency. A newly developed 4-litre V8 twin-turbo with dry-sump lubrication powers the car. The drivetrain uses a carbon-fibre torque tube and a rear-located transaxle layout that integrates an 8-speed automatic transmission, a single electric motor and a mechanical limited-slip differential. This configuration aims to give drivers of all skill levels controllable, engaging performance.
TGR built the GR GT3 from the GR GT to compete in global customer racing. The car follows FIA GT3 regulations, the top category for production-vehicle-based customer motorsport, and it targets professional and gentleman drivers who want to win without sacrificing accessibility. The GR GT3 shares key hardware with the GR GT, including the aluminium space-frame chassis, low-mount double-wishbone suspension, and 4-litre V8 twin-turbo engine. TGR also plans a dedicated customer support system for the international GT3 series competition to strengthen the programme beyond the car itself.
Lexus created the Lexus LFA Concept to set its sights on an actual BEV sports car that surpasses customer expectations. Like the GR GT and GR GT3, the concept emerged from a one-team approach with Master Driver Morizo. It inherits and evolves the spirit of the Lexus LFA and seeks a balance of striking styling and confident driving performance. Lexus aims to shift perceptions that BEV sports cars are still in their infancy by combining preserved craftsmanship with advanced electric vehicle technology and forward-looking manufacturing know-how.
TGR will issue a related press release with further details on the GR GT and GR GT3, and Lexus will provide more information on the Lexus LFA Concept in its own release. TGR and Lexus intend to continue sharing updates on these three flagship performance models as development progresses.
