New Toyota V8 supercar expected to be unveiled on December 5

The global reveal of Toyota’s LFA successor, the GR GT, is scheduled for December 5, as indicated by a countdown on the automaker’s Gazoo Racing (GR) division’s website. The V8-powered coupe will serve as Toyota’s new performance flagship, marking the brand’s return to the high-performance segment after more than a decade.

Positioned as a direct rival to the Aston Martin DB12, the GR GT will then make its first public appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. The car is expected to combine motorsport engineering with modern design and technology.

1. GR GT’s V8 hybrid system will likely make 690hp
2. Lightweight chassis built to meet GT3 race rules
3. Expected to reach global showrooms by late 2026

Toyota GR GT: Why does it exist?

Built for GT3 homologation

The fundamental reason for the GR GT’s existence is the FIA GT3 homologation rule, which mandates that any GT3 race car must share its basic body design with a related road-going vehicle. The GR GT, therefore, serves as the production version of the GR GT3 hardcore racer concept first shown in 2022.

Toyota said it will continue “commercialising motorsport cars rather than adapting production vehicles for racing”, as seen with the rally-developed GR Yaris.

This approach ties the road car’s design directly to the GT3 racer. The GR GT3 V8 prototype was spotted running at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This places Toyota directly in competition with GT3 customer car builders like Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG.

Expected hybrid V8 specifications

Projected 690hp output to pit it against Aston Martin DB12

While full technical specifications are still under wraps, the car is expected to use a V8 engine, highly likely with hybrid assistance, to meet increasingly stringent global emission regulations. Toyota has confirmed it is testing hybrid systems for performance applications, seeing it as a solution for both motorsport and passenger vehicle engines.

Toyota has not yet released any specifications of the road car, but the race car will produce around 493-592hp and weigh no more than 1,300kg, in line with GT3 regulations. With the addition of the road car’s hybrid system, the production GR GT will likely push closer to 690hp, directly competing with the 662hp Aston Martin DB12.

The GR GT could reach showrooms globally in late 2026, reintroducing Toyota to the high-performance supercar segment.