Automotive

Toyota throws its hat back in the supercar ring with 1,000-hp GR Super Sport

Toyota throws its hat back in the supercar ring with 1,000-hp GR Super Sport
The Toyota Gazoo team lines up behind their ultra-sporty creation
The Toyota Gazoo team lines up behind their ultra-sporty creation
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It's not difficult to see how much racing influenced the design of the GR Super Sport Concept
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It's not difficult to see how much racing influenced the design of the GR Super Sport Concept
Gazoo Racing Company president Shigeki Tomoyama presents the GR Super Sport at a 24 Hours of Le Mans press conference
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Gazoo Racing Company president Shigeki Tomoyama presents the GR Super Sport at a 24 Hours of Le Mans press conference
The Toyota Gazoo team lines up behind their ultra-sporty creation
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The Toyota Gazoo team lines up behind their ultra-sporty creation
The GR Super Sport Concept is being developed for production
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The GR Super Sport Concept is being developed for production
Toyota originally revealed the GR Super Sport at the Tokyo Auto Salon back in January
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Toyota originally revealed the GR Super Sport at the Tokyo Auto Salon back in January
Along with its advanced hybrid propulsion system, the GR Super Sport has race-inspired aerodynamics
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Along with its advanced hybrid propulsion system, the GR Super Sport has race-inspired aerodynamics
Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
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Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
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Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
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Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
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Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
Toyota pulls the skin off and looks at the lightweight construction and technological underpinnings
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Toyota pulls the skin off and looks at the lightweight construction and technological underpinnings 
A look under the skin of the Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
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A look under the skin of the Toyota GR Super Sport Concept
The GR Super Sport has a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 and a hybrid system with electric motors
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The GR Super Sport has a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 and a hybrid system with electric motors
The GR Super Sport Concept rides on 330/710R18 tires front and rear
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The GR Super Sport Concept rides on 330/710R18 tires front and rear
The GR Super Sport Concept previews a range-topping Toyota supercar
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The GR Super Sport Concept previews a range-topping Toyota supercar
View gallery - 15 images

Earlier this year, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing Super Sport Concept, a virile race car-for-the road with a combination of V6 and electric motor propulsion. It showed the car again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month, signaling its intentions of building a production version. With technology ripped straight out of the TS050 Hybrid LMP1 car, this "next-generation racehorse" will debut as a barely tamed race car with 986 hp worth of hybrid racing technology.

The auto world has already been getting excited about the Supra, which looked for a while like it would become Toyota's flagship sports car. But before the production Supra has even debuted, Toyota announces its intentions of jumping leaps and bounds above the Supra's ceiling with a production version of the GR Super Sport Concept. Toyota's not fooling around when it comes to fulfilling president Akio Toyoda's promise of delivering cars that are fun to drive.

The GR Super Sport Concept looks more like a race car than a sports coupe, and its development has hinged directly on Toyota's participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), where the TS050 Hybrid competes. The hybrid electric and fuel economy technologies that will feature in the GR supercar have been developed and refined through Toyota Gazoo Racing's WEC efforts over the past six years.

It's not difficult to see how much racing influenced the design of the GR Super Sport Concept
It's not difficult to see how much racing influenced the design of the GR Super Sport Concept

"Competing in the World Endurance Championship – one of the most demanding motorsports series – and racing at Le Mans – one of the most iconic races – helps us to advance the development of our world-leading hybrid electric technology and enables us to transfer the knowledge we gain into our production cars," explained Gazoo Racing Company president Shigeki Tomoyama.

Indeed, the GR Super Sport benefits heartily from Gazoo Racing's experience. Its combination of twin-turbo direct-injection 2.4-liter V6 engine and Toyota Hybrid System-Racing (THS-R) puts out 986 hp, ensuring that the sports coupe will perform like few other cars of this world. The GR's race-inspired construction and aero package will prevent any of those horses from going to waste.

Toyota hasn't gotten specific with a development timeline, but Tomoyama concluded the announcement by saying, "At some point in the near future, customers will have a chance to get behind the wheel of this incredible machine and experience its astonishing power and driving performance."

Along with its advanced hybrid propulsion system, the GR Super Sport has race-inspired aerodynamics
Along with its advanced hybrid propulsion system, the GR Super Sport has race-inspired aerodynamics

We like the sound of "near future" and look forward to watching the likes of Toyota, Aston Martin and Mercedes battle it out in the hybrid hypercar arena.

In the meantime, you can navigate the gallery for photos of the concept car at Le Mans and from its initial debut at the 2018 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Source: Toyota

View gallery - 15 images
5 comments
5 comments
Mr T
These mobs making hybrids still don't get it...
Daishi
@Mr T Hybrid race cars are setting records though so they are seeing success with them.
Bob
Toyota seems to be going for the world's ugliest grills and front ends. The back end even looks almost as bad as the front. Only the side view has any grace and beauty. I have been looking at buying a new Toyota for the past couple years but I just can't stand the the looks of the front ends. Unfortunately, several other car makers are going the same repulsive cheese grater styling route.
Daishi
@Bob You are right about everyone using cheese grater styling grills. The most obvious company that doesn't is Tesla but if you are looking for a combustion sedan the front of the BMW 3 series isn't that ugly. Kia optima and Stinger use the cheese grater style but not as much of it as Toyota that looks like it's meant to accommodate a huge intercooler but lacks one.
Nik
This is just what I need for my morning shopping trips the the supermarket. How did they guess?