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Toyota's GR performance sudsidiary has brought a splash of fun to the automaker's lineup, with a trio of sports cars that includes the GR86 and GR Supra two-doors, as well as the GR Corolla hatchback. The GR brand was first created under outgoing CEO Akio Toyoda, who doubled as an avid racecar driver under the name Morizo.
Now that Toyoda has stepped down from CEO to chairman, the top position is being handed over to Koji Sato, who pledged to reorganize the company's plans with a larger focus on electrification. But with EVs becoming the brand's new top priority, there's a possibility that tossable performance cars may be moved to the backburner. Autocar spoke with soon-to-be CEO Sato to discuss whether with GR lineup will still have a place amid the switch to electrification, and things looks promising.
Sato told Autocar that there will be more GR models in the future, especially considering that Akio Toyoda will have a lot more time on his hands under the role of chairman. He even said that development of future GR vehicles could be sped up.
“Our Master Driver was also president of the company at the same time as he had a steering wheel in his hand for Gazoo," Satio told Autocar. "Now he is only chairman maybe he will have a lot more time to develop cars for them?”
Exactly what these future GR-branded cars may look like is unknown, but there has been some talk surrounding a lightweight sports car developed by both Toyota and Suzuki. The rumored model would feature a small internal combustion engine making around 110 hp, with styling inspired by the Toyota Sports EV concept that was briefly showcased in late 2021. Other possibilities include a GR sedan, which would ideally be based on the Camry, and Toyota has even said it was pondering a GR version of the bZ4X electric crossover.
What would be your ideal GR-branded Toyota?
Image Credits: Toyota
Future Cars
May 2, 2023
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Toyota's New Boss Hints At More GR Sports Cars In The Future
Even amid an enlarged focus on EVs, the GR brand will still get attention.
Toyota's GR performance sudsidiary has brought a splash of fun to the automaker's lineup, with a trio of sports cars that includes the GR86 and GR Supra two-doors, as well as the GR Corolla hatchback. The GR brand was first created under outgoing CEO Akio Toyoda, who doubled as an avid racecar driver under the name Morizo.
Now that Toyoda has stepped down from CEO to chairman, the top position is being handed over to Koji Sato, who pledged to reorganize the company's plans with a larger focus on electrification. But with EVs becoming the brand's new top priority, there's a possibility that tossable performance cars may be moved to the backburner. Autocar spoke with soon-to-be CEO Sato to discuss whether with GR lineup will still have a place amid the switch to electrification, and things looks promising.
Sato told Autocar that there will be more GR models in the future, especially considering that Akio Toyoda will have a lot more time on his hands under the role of chairman. He even said that development of future GR vehicles could be sped up.
“Our Master Driver was also president of the company at the same time as he had a steering wheel in his hand for Gazoo," Satio told Autocar. "Now he is only chairman maybe he will have a lot more time to develop cars for them?”
Exactly what these future GR-branded cars may look like is unknown, but there has been some talk surrounding a lightweight sports car developed by both Toyota and Suzuki. The rumored model would feature a small internal combustion engine making around 110 hp, with styling inspired by the Toyota Sports EV concept that was briefly showcased in late 2021. Other possibilities include a GR sedan, which would ideally be based on the Camry, and Toyota has even said it was pondering a GR version of the bZ4X electric crossover.
What would be your ideal GR-branded Toyota?
Image Credits: Toyota
