New V8 from Toyota and Lexus
Toyota has confirmed that it is currently actively developing a new V8 powertrain. This twin-turbo engine will be installed in future sports cars of the GR and Lexus brands. The head of Toyota’s powertrain department stated that the engine will be available in several versions.
Continuation of the Gasoline Engine Era
Toyota is not yet ready to say goodbye to gasoline engines. The brand that made hybrid technology mainstream still feels a particular affection for the mechanical symphony of pistons and the sound of the exhaust system. Now the company is taking another step forward, confirming the development of a completely new V8 engine that will become the heart of their next flagship sports car – the Toyota GR GT3.
That’s not all, as a related version of this same engine will also appear in the production model of the Lexus Sport Concept, uniting two of Toyota’s most ambitious projects recently.
Completely New V8
Even in the early stages of development, there were suspicions that the GR brand’s flagship model would receive a hybrid V8 engine. Recently, Toyota shared an audio recording of this engine’s roar, and a senior executive confirmed what enthusiasts had hoped for: it is definitely an eight-cylinder engine.
At the Japan Mobility Show, Takashi Uehara, Toyota’s President of Powertrain, reported that the new V8 is indeed under development. It will join Toyota’s future model lineup alongside turbocharged 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines.
According to Uehara, the V8 was chosen for its ability to deliver maximum performance, with a combustion chamber tuned for high RPMs rather than low-end torque.
Technical Features and Power
Uehara explained that the new powertrain shares a common base architecture with Toyota’s future 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This connection confirms earlier reports of a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in the works, capable of producing over 800 horsepower.
Such power seems quite achievable, as the four-cylinder engine intended for the new GR Celica promises to deliver up to 400 hp in its non-hybrid version.
In a separate interview, Uehara noted that while Toyota has experience using electrification in motorsports, he personally prefers non-hybrid engines with manual transmissions for road-going sports cars.
Despite this, the GR GT3 will have an automatic transmission and will most likely use hybrid assistance for the V8 engine. Unlike the plug-in hybrid systems used by Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and BMW, Toyota is expected to choose a self-charging solution.
Lexus Will Also Get Its Share
The V8 revival at Toyota will not be limited to just the GR GT3. Uehara confirmed that the same engine, but in a different configuration, will also be installed in the production version of the Lexus Sport Concept.
The low-slung sports car, which carries the spirit of the LFA, is believed to preview the successor to the future discontinued LC. It was first presented at Monterey Car Week in California, but a slightly refined prototype with a full interior was shown at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
Interior and Technologies
Inside, the two-seat cabin features a curved digital instrument panel and a yoke-shaped steering wheel. The layout strongly hints at hybrid technology, as the central display shows battery and charge indicators. Initially, it was believed that the production version would be fully electric, but it now seems more likely that it will combine electric assistance with the new V8 engine.
Different Versions for Different Characters
According to Uehara, there will be several versions of the V8 engine: one described as “gentle” and the other as “muscular.” The former is expected to be installed in the refined Lexus, while the latter will most likely end up under the hood of the hardcore Toyota GR GT3 race car.
All eyes are now on December 5th, when Toyota will finally lift the veil on the GR GT3 supercar and likely tell the full story of this new-generation V8 engine.
This news indicates that, despite the general trend towards electrification, Toyota continues to invest in improving traditional internal combustion engines, especially for its most emotional and high-performance models. This approach may satisfy both fans of classic sports cars and ensure compliance with future environmental requirements thanks to hybrid technologies. It also underscores the strategic importance of shared platforms for different brands and models within the conglomerate, allowing for optimization of development and production costs.