Toyota GR GT Supercar Confirmed For January 2026 Debut, Sounds Like A V8

Despite a few teasers getting our hopes up, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda confirmed today, as part of a broader series of announcements including a Century Coupe and a new Corolla concept, that the GR GT will be shown publicly for the first time at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon in January next year.

UPDATE: 2025/10/14 5:17 AM EST
Toyota has subsequently updated the Gazoo Racing website with a countdown to the reveal, indicating a December 5 digital unveiling before the public debut at TAS 2026.

"Due to certain circumstances, the stall could not able to be opened; the actual event will be at Auto Salon next January," said Toyoda during the live broadcast. He also confirmed that the change in signage at Fuji Speedway was confirmation that the new car was coming, referred to as the GR GT.

Production Version Of Goodwood Prototypes, Maybe A Lexus Version Too
There's been a lot of discussion around Toyota's new sports car/supercar, with many wondering if it'll be sold as a Toyota (GR GT) or a Lexus (LFR). Toyota hasn't helped provide clarity, either. In July at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Toyota brought road and race versions of a new sports car called the GR GT and drove them up the hill. But then at Monterey Car Week, Lexus surprised us all with a concept car that looked similar to the Toyotas in proportion, but had Lexus styling. Akio Toyoda has now confirmed the production car is related to both the Toyota prototypes and the Lexus concept, suggesting there may be versions sold under both nameplates.

"When I look at this headlight, during the summer at a car event in England called Goodwood, there was some kind of camouflaged car driving around [that looked like this]. And it's very similar to the new one that was released at Pebble Beach. I wonder what it is?"

- Akio Toyoda, Toyota Chairman

That last question was delivered by Toyoda with a cheeky smile; will it be a Toyota or a Lexus? We think it will be both, but he's clearly playing coy, and we suspect he will until at least January, when the GR GT gets revealed.

It Sounds A Lot Like A V8
As part of the broadcast, we were treated to a sound clip of the new sports car. A trio of sound clips was played, starting with the 2000GT, followed by the LFA, and then the GR GT, showcasing that they are definitely seen as spiritual successors to one another. While the inline-six and V10 of the 2000GT and LFA are well known to all enthusiasts, the powertrain for the new model has not yet been confirmed. However, in this clip, we're more sure than ever that the GR GT will be powered by a V8 engine. Jump to the 44:50 mark in the video below to hear for yourself; there's an unmistakably bassy rumble that's as V8 as can be, and a cross-plane one at that.

But despite it obviously sounding like a V8, Akio refuses to confirm it. When asked what will power the new sports car, with suggestions ranging from V6 hybrid to twin-turbo V8, Akio simply says we should look forward to the Auto Salon next year.

What he would confirm, though, is that Toyota engineers have been hard at work to make sure the GR GT sounds emotive, saying that the sound we hear may not be final, but it is a good indication of what to expect. Sound is important, and Toyoda wants to make it sound as good as possible, within the framework the law allows.

Akio Toyoda is clearly reveling in the mystery of it all, but as someone who was a driving force behind the LFA and the Gazoo Racing performance arm, if anyone's going to make sure this new supercar (or trio of supercars) is a success, it'll be Toyoda.