Toyota is preparing for a real leap into the high-performance car segment, introducing three flagship models at once that can compete with Ferrari, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce. Among them is the GR GT sports car with a hybrid V8 engine and aluminum chassis, as well as a fully electric successor to the legendary Lexus LFA. In addition, the company is actively developing its Century brand, creating luxury models that can compete with the most prestigious cars on the market.
Since the establishment of the GR division, Toyota has demonstrated ambitions that go beyond compact hatchbacks and tuned coupes. Today, these ambitions are taking tangible form: the GR GT and the new LFA are not just concepts, but real cars ready for mass production. Toyota aims to show that it can create world-class supercars and ultra-luxury models, rather than being limited to traditional mass segments.
The GR GT will be the first car of the brand with an aluminum chassis and a hybrid V8 engine, which makes it unique in the Toyota lineup. The Lexus LFA completely abandons the ICE and is equipped with an electric power plant, offering impressive performance and modern design. The LFA is expected to go on sale by 2028, and the GR GT as early as 2027, including the road and racing version of the GR GT3.
Toyota's new level of performance confirms the seriousness of the company's intentions. According to Nikkei Asia, the GR GT and LFA will be positioned on par with the best representatives of Bentley, Porsche, and Ferrari. The cost of the new models has not yet been officially announced, but it will be in the ultra-luxury car segment, comparable to the original 2011 LFA, which started at a price of about $375,000.
In addition to entering the supercar market, Toyota is actively developing the Century brand. In the coming years, a high-end coupe will appear, combining elements of design and technology from the GR GT and LFA. This will allow the Japanese automaker to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley in the premium luxury car market.
Toyota also demonstrates its engineering capabilities on the race track. This year, the small but daring GR Yaris won its class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, showing that the company's sports developments are effective not only on paper. This creates positive expectations regarding the handling and dynamics of the new GR GT and LFA models.
Akio Toyoda explained the company's strategy at a press conference: Toyota does not want its cars to turn into mass products without individuality. By developing unique supercars and luxury models, the company strives to preserve the character of the brands and emphasize the innovations that distinguish it from competitors. In this context, the GR GT and Lexus LFA become a symbol of Toyota's ambitions in the global arena of high-performance and ultra-luxury cars.