This is it, folks! The long wait is finally over, and we are witnessing the birth of an all-new sports car. The Toyota GR GT, along with its racing counterpart, the GR GT3, are a new generation of Toyota sports cars. This is what fans wanted the Mk 5 Supra to be. For once, the wait was totally worth it, as the specs are quite insane!
For starters, the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 runs a dry-sump lubrication system. The bore and stroke measures 87.5mm and 83.1mm, respectively. This oversquare configuration reduces the deck height of the engine, lowering the centre of gravity. Furthermore, the engine has a hot-vee layout, with the two turbochargers nestled in the middle of the cylinder banks.
This monstrous engine is paired with a transaxle-integrated single-motor hybrid. Yes, there’s a transaxle, housing an all-new 8-speed automatic gearbox with a mechanical, limited-slip differential. The gearbox utilises a wet-start clutch in place of a torque converter. This hybrid powertrain pumps out a potent 650PS / 850Nm maximum system output.
Toyota’s first all-aluminium body frame is home to this powertrain, clad in Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and plastic body panels. The weight distribution is 45:55 front-to-rear, and further aiding handling are double wishbone suspension on all four corners, as are the carbon ceramic disc brakes. The GR GT has a staggered stance with 265/35 ZR20 front and 325/30 ZR20 rear tyres, and a claimed top speed of over 320kmph.
We feel Toyota has managed to channel the spirit of the Mk 4 Supra through the GR GT, as it once again marks a return to turbocharged performance. While the Mk 5 Supra had the spirit of the Mk 4 in terms of affordable performance, it was not able to challenge the contemporary 911 Turbo as the Porsche has moved into supercar territory. The GR GT, which for all intents and purposes is the Mk 6 Supra, should have no trouble with those pesky Porsches, though, if the claimed numbers are anything to go by.
