by New era of Toyota sports cars
Toyota continues to develop its sports models, starting with the revival of the Supra in 2019 through collaboration with BMW. Since then, the Gazoo Racing division has expanded significantly, creating successful models such as the GR Yaris and GR Corolla. Now, as the Supra approaches the end of its life cycle, Toyota states that it can develop a new sports car independently, without the involvement of other manufacturers.
History of partnerships and prospects
The brand initially joined forces with Subaru to launch the GT 86 in 2012, then collaborated with BMW on the new Supra and again with Subaru on the second generation GR 86. However, when recently asked if Toyota could act independently, a company representative in Australia confirmed this possibility but did not disclose specific plans regarding the new model.
The head of sales and marketing in Australia stated:
The answer is yes: we can do it ourselves. That’s what GR exists for. But, despite this, we have learned and will continue to learn a lot through our partnerships. BMW produces very high-quality cars, so we are not stepping back from this collaboration – it was a useful collaboration where we gained invaluable experience in creating sports models.
He added:
To answer your question: can I imagine a day when we create a completely independent Toyota Gazoo Racing sports car? Yes, yes, and yes again. Stay tuned to learn more.
Possible development options
The representative did not provide clear indications as to whether the new model would be the next generation Supra or a completely new development. However, he noted that the Supra has a powerful legacy, and one can never say “never” regarding the revival of this brand.
Interestingly, recent reports indicate that Toyota has already approved the development of a new generation Supra, which may appear as early as 2027. Additionally, there are rumors about the revival of the Celica name in the form of a GR model with a mid-engine layout, all-wheel drive, and power of around 400 hp.
The development of Gazoo Racing demonstrates how automotive companies can combine their own innovations with partners’ experience to create unique products. Independent development of new sports models will allow Toyota to fully control technical specifications and design, which could lead to even more impressive results. Growing competition in the sports car market stimulates manufacturers to constantly improve technologies and expand their model range.
