GR GT Megathread

S

ssun30

Expert
Messages
3,992
Reactions
8,852
I think Bestcar mentioned annual production is 600 units. So about 40% goes to US.

TBH this is nothing to brag about. NSX had similar amount of sales (NSX is almost exclusive to USDM and limited JDM while GR GT is global) and is considered a flop. Nissan sold over 1000 R35s per year for a long time. Chevy sells over 1500 ZR1s and Porsche over 5000 GT3s.
 
M

mediumhot

Admirer
Messages
660
Reactions
772
LCLFV said:
The way I see it, GR has a heavy burden to carry as a brand comparable to Lexus launching the LS400. Releasing a limited $200,000+ car that will sell in only 300 units per year and then not having any actually brand-bespoke attainable cars for the general public for at least the next 4 years certainly isn't helping their cause regardless of how much money is thrown at influencers and PR. If relying on Mat Watson to generate imaginary AI cars is the cornerstone of your marketing, then yikes.

People will speak with their wallets and it's pointless if there is nothing for their wallets to be used for. Lexus loses, GR loses, Toyota loses, and the customer loses. The only person who thinks they win is Akio.
Click to expand...

Thats exactly what they are doing. They are launching another Lexus just like they did the first one 35 years ago. But my hunch tells me this is all a compromise because someone in Japan doesnt really appreciate Lexus badge on flagship Toyota cars. I could be wrong but this whole thing smells like egotrip rather than rational business practice.
 
S

spwolf

Expert
Messages
3,596
Reactions
3,489
ssun30 said:
I think Bestcar mentioned annual production is 600 units. So about 40% goes to US.

TBH this is nothing to brag about. NSX had similar amount of sales (NSX is almost exclusive to USDM and limited JDM while GR GT is global) and is considered a flop. Nissan sold over 1000 R35s per year for a long time. Chevy sells over 1500 ZR1s and Porsche over 5000 GT3s.
Click to expand...

I doubt they are trying to go for records, it is a $300k Toyota in the end.

It is to elevate the brand.

Do we know overall GR numbers? It might be their most sucessful thing in past 50 years, after Lexus.
 
CRSKTN

CRSKTN

Expert
Messages
2,477
Reactions
4,126
This was supposed to be a readily available model. It's already a flop and they're back tracking.

I bet you they tell dealers if they don't play this stupid game, you won't get any allocation for a hypothetical LFA2 one day.

If you want people driving the cars, you don't sell 200 to 250 of them into a market as big as the US.

GR won't succeed, and it certainly won't come anywhere near what Lexus produced with it's mass market vehicles, luxury SUVs, etc.

Lexus is what it is because Toyota put a madman perfectionist in charge of the LS400 project, and it wasn't until they realized it couldn't be successful with a Toyota badge that they came up with Lexus. You're not going to get that by putting inbreed charity cases in the drivers seat.
 
S

ssun30

Expert
Messages
3,992
Reactions
8,852
spwolf said:
I doubt they are trying to go for records, it is a $300k Toyota in the end.

It is to elevate the brand.

Do we know overall GR numbers? It might be their most sucessful thing in past 50 years, after Lexus.
Click to expand...
"Elevating the brand" doesn't work when majority of their sales are subcompact and compact hatchbacks.

The GR Yaris and GR Corolla are more successful than competitors globally (Golf GTI, CTR, Elantra N etc.). With GR now as a separate brand but sold at Lexus dealerships, that simply doesn't work. Do buyers need to go to a Lexus dealer to buy a GR Corolla? What about 86? MR2? Supra?

The only coherent strategy is what VW has always maintained: two separate performance sub-brands for the mainstream brand and the luxury brand.
 
bogglo

bogglo

Admirer
Messages
672
Reactions
889
This just sound stupid. How do you sell GR and F-Sport at the same dealership. Then they are talking about an LFA II.

IMO this is another plot to further bastardize the Lexus nameplate. Because imagine walking into a lexus dealership and best looking/most expensive/sportiest vehicle in the show room as a Toyota badge on it.

The two years down the line throw the century into the mix.
 
M

mediumhot

Admirer
Messages
660
Reactions
772
Falcon said:
Except they don't? GR is the badge and it is its own brand now.
Click to expand...
Mmmm if they keep Toyota model names like you suggested its a Toyota GR not just GR. With GR GT they kind of dodged that bullet to a degree but if the next model is Celica you can bet its a Toyota no matter if they slap a BMW badge on it.
 
F

Falcon

Follower
Messages
221
Reactions
197
mediumhot said:
Mmmm if they keep Toyota model names like you suggested its a Toyota GR not just GR. With GR GT they kind of dodged that bullet to a degree but if the next model is Celica you can bet its a Toyota no matter if they slap a BMW badge on it.
Click to expand...
There won't be a Toyota namesake as GR will have the only Celica. Unlike with the Yaris/Corolla.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.