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Electric Toyota GR sports car in the works

The Japanese carmaker has confirmed that a high-performance all-electric GR model is in development, but it remains uncertain whether it will become a reality

16 Jun 2023 12:00 PM

Henry Man

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Toyota’s chairman and former chief Akio Toyoda has confirmed he’s ‘personally involved’ in developing the first Gazoo Racing (GR) electric sports car.

Snapshot

Toyoda confirms electric GR in testing
Uses simulated engine noises, manual transmission
Unsure if it will come to market

Speaking to Autocar [↗], Toyoda said the Japanese carmaker’s performance division is working on a ‘fun to drive’ high-performance electric GR, but it is uncertain if it will come to fruition.

“The biggest difference to other BEVs [battery-electric vehicles] we are developing is that, when you are in the GR BEV, you can actually hear the engine noises, even if you can’t smell gasoline,” Toyoda said.

“There is also a manual transmission and also a clutch. If you put someone in the car and asked them to drive it and guess the powertrain, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you.”

This suggests the high-performance Toyota GR EV could be co-developed with its counterpart Lexus, given the luxury brand has teased that it’s working on a simulated manual transmission for EVs.

It is confirmed to debut in the electric Lexus LFA coupe successor.

In a similar vein, Hyundai’s N performance division has been working on simulating the sounds, vibrations and jolts typical of a dual-clutch transmission for its upcoming EVs, including the Ioniq 5 N SUV and Ioniq 6 N sedan.

Toyoda also suggested that it may not be a bespoke model if it comes to market, as suggested by its GR Sports Concept in 2021. Current GR models are mostly based on regular Toyota vehicles, as per the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

A change of tune

Toyota and its former CEO, Akio Toyoda, have long been criticised for lobbying policymakers for weaker emissions standards and delaying the development of battery-electric vehicles.

Toyoda is the grandson of the carmaker’s founder and GR has been heralded as his passion project, as a participant in racing rallies himself, to bring more sporty combustion-engined vehicles amid growing emissions and noise regulations.

However, Toyota’s new CEO Kōji Satō, who assumed the role in April after leading the Lexus and GR division, has committed to prioritising battery-electric vehicles while maintaining a diverse powertrain offering strategy.