GR GT Megathread (GT3 Concept will become the GR GT)

[LCLFV]

I think many of us have been thinking and hoping Akio had some master plan that we would all love... as time has gone on, I can't tell if he's stupid or just so overcome with ego that it prevents him from being able to make smart decisions.

As we've seen time and again and are reminded of every single day, narcissists don't have long-term plans. They are all attention addicts where every single moment they need their fix of self-validation of their own greatness.

 

[Falcon]

GR Celica

No. Every new GR that will be introduced will be sold alongside the GR GT. They have made that very clear.

The optics of this car being sold at Lexus dealers is very strange. The other GR cars all have Toyota emblems, the GR GT has no emblem on the hood, a GR badge on the steering wheel, and one small GR badge on the front and rear bumpers

Because they were introduced before GR was spun off as its own brand? What's so hard to understand about that? Also, Toyota had already hinted that GR was going to become its own brand with the FT-Se concept being completely branded a GR car. Same with the Century SUV, branded completely Century.

The GR GT3 was conceived as a GR branded concept. They have from the very beginning signaled that it was going to be a GR effort. Sure they considered branding it a Lexus at some point but they did not trick us or anything about what it was going to be.

Most of the media coverage I've seen does reference the car as a Toyota

And most media is dumb. The video above he explains that GR is its own brand later in the video but look at what he calls it at the beginning. Lol

 

[gecko]

No. Every new GR that will be introduced will be sold alongside the GR GT. They have made that very clear.

So in the future, GR Supra, GR 86, GR Celica, etc. are going to be sold through Lexus dealers?

The GR GT3 was conceived as a GR branded concept. They have from the very beginning signaled that it was going to be a GR effort. Sure they considered branding it a Lexus at some point but they did not trick us or anything about what it was going to be.

The project started as the Lexus LFR and was later handed over to Gazoo Racing because the primary intention was to build a car for motorsport, and later a road going version. By the time we saw the GR GT3 Concept, Akio already made the decision for it to come to market as a GR branded car despite the initial business case to build it as a Lexus.

 

[ssun30]

If you watch his "Celica" click bait video you will see what Akio clearly thinks about Lexus.

"Carbon neutral, not exciting."

Yet Lexus under his vision is the carbon neutral brand. It's the boring brand for people who don't care about cars. And let's be honest, being a "boring brand for people who don't care about cars" has been a successful business strategy for them.

Lexus is now a brand that sells a 200hp 2-ton sedan as their main cash cow in China, a market where the average "family car" now has 500hp. If you read interviews with Lexus engineers who made the 8ES, you can tell they don't give a ****. They say the ES500e performs like a "sports sedan". On one hand we have the GR engineers trying to come up with solutions to package the G20E into the trunk of the GR Yaris, and a 300L liquid H2 tank with superconducting magnetic pump in a GR Corolla. On the other hand they can't offer an ES500e executive package because the recliner seat interferes with the rear eAxle.

The electric "LFA" is vaporware because anyone can see that the GR GT chassis had no place for a BEV battery pack. They can maybe cram a tiny pack in the central tunnel, 50kWh max even with solid state. I don't believe Lexus has some top secret technology that makes razor thin batteries that can fit in that floor. Maybe some Chinese brand like Xiaomi or Yangwang can do that but Lexus? No. They can only manage a 74.7kWh in the 8ES which has all the space in the world.

 

[Falcon]

So in the future, GR Supra, GR 86, GR Celica, etc. are going to be sold through Lexus dealers?

Yes. All upcoming Gazoo Racing and Century products will be sold through the Lexus dealer network.

The project started as the Lexus LFR and was later handed over to Gazoo Racing because the primary intention was to build a car for motorsport, and later a road going version. By the time we saw the GR GT3 Concept, Akio already made the decision for it to come to market as a GR branded car despite the initial business case to build it as a Lexus.

But almost 4 years prior to the GR GT’s reveal, the concept we saw in January 2022 was GR branded. So the decision to brand it as a GR car was made at the latest in 2021. It’s not like they changed their mind last minute. They still may have considered badging it a Lexus at some point during development and at the very least we are getting a Lexus out of the same chassis (although I hope they put an engine in it) with a more attractive bodywork.

 

[Motor]

 

[CRSKTN]

The shift over to Gazoo was forced and the first step.

This thing, down to the literal nuts and bolts, is the LFS/LFR.

We even saw Lexus USA putting Lexus badging on it, pissing off Japan at points.

This has been active, behind the scenes warfare. Lexus USA vs the parasitic parent trying to cannibalize it and make it vestigial.

 

[Motor]

Could Toyota’s Newest Brand Be Bigger Than Lexus?

Gazoo Racing, winner of multiple WRC and WEC titles, is rapidly evolving from Toyota's in-house performance division into an independent performance brand rivaling AMG.

www.forbes.com

Summary​

Toyota is strategically elevating Gazoo Racing (GR) into an independent global performance brand, mirroring its successful Century ultra-luxury marque strategy. Founded by Akio Toyoda, GR's core mission is to forge "ever-better cars" through authentic motorsport development. This evolution is evident as dedicated GR models are now marketed under their own identity, culminating in the recent GR GT flagship supercar's debut without Toyota badging. The official name change to "Gazoo Racing" further solidifies this separation. With its racing-forged DNA, GR plans significant portfolio expansion, including electrified models and potentially performance SUVs, aiming to rival established marques like Mercedes-AMG and BMW M as Toyota's dedicated high-performance division.

 

[CRSKTN]

Founded by Akio Toyoda

"Founded". People like this have made words meaningless.

 

[LCLFV]

"Founded". People like this have made words meaningless.

He "founded" the GR GT the same way Christopher Columbus founded the Americas.