Toyota could introduce GR sedan, electrified sports models

Toyota’s Gazoo Racing skunkworks could be fettling a sedan upcoming, and has still left the door huge open for electrification before 2030.

Bob Carter, govt vice president of product sales at Toyota Motor North America, told Motor Development to “stay tuned” when requested about the probability of a GR-badged sedan.

As for electrification, Toyota says there’s absolutely nothing imminent but it’s analyzing the opportunity of future electrified GR versions, with Mr Carter indicating an electrified GR vehicle could “quite possibly” appear in 5 yrs.

“Electrification coming to GR is something we’re chatting about. In the extended term, what is the very best way to deliver what GR is and what does electrification have to do with that,” said Cooper Ericksen, team vice president of products preparing and technique at Toyota.

“The essential is pleasurable to push, lightweight, observe efficiency, so if we can deliver that with an EV, we might glimpse into that.”

Toyota now gives both of those GR and GR Activity-badged versions.

GR vehicles are enthusiast-oriented, committed functionality machines, and incorporate the GR 86, GR Supra, GR Corolla and GR Yaris. Toyota says this year’s GR GT3 concept is also going into the development phase.

In contrast, GR Activity products function aesthetic and mechanical tweaks but really do not present any more power.

Toyota sells GR Activity variations of every little thing from the Yaris and Prius up to the HiLux and LandCruiser 300 Sequence. It is also previewed a GR Activity variation of its forthcoming bZ4x electric crossover.

In distinction, Mr Carter informed the US publication final yr there ended up no programs for GR-badged SUVs.

“I don’t want to get rid of just about anything, but in the beginning no,” reported Mr Carter very last 12 months.

“The value is exhilarating driving. When you go to SUVs you have increased centre of gravities and it is just not conducive. Nothing at all is off the desk, but initially you can be expecting it to be a car or truck-centered motor vehicle. There’s nonetheless a current market for that.”

As to what this mooted GR sedan could be, a GR Corolla sedan seems an clear recommendation.

The GR Corolla hatchback, due below by year’s end, uses the GR Yaris’ turbocharged 1.6-litre a few-cylinder motor but with much more energy (220kW) and the very same torque (370Nm), mated with Toyota’s GR-4 variable 4WD process.

It’ll be out there only with a six-pace manual transmission – for now.

Toyota has been tests an 8-speed torque-converter computerized transmission in a GR Yaris, which could give the GR Corolla more volume enchantment.

Whilst American fanatics have been known to respect a adhere change, scorching hatches are less prevalent there and a sedan physique design could resonate far better.

Motor Trend also noted the GR sedan could possibly be a GR Camry.

There is precedent for a incredibly hot Camry. In Australia, TRD developed a hotter, supercharged variation of the Aurion, as the V6-driven Camry was regarded here for two generations.

The blown V6 generated 241kW of electric power and 400Nm of torque, up 37kW and 64Nm on the now punchy Aurion V6.

Tweaks for the TRD Aurion incorporated larger brakes, stickier Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, stiffer springs and firmer damping, and a 12mm reduce ride top, though there was no restricted-slip differential or all-wheel generate method.

Although the TRD Aurion was unsuccessful, a TRD-badged Camry appeared in North America in 2019.

While its 224kW 3.5-litre V6 is unchanged, it capabilities a cat-back again twin exhaust, thicker underbody braces, stiffer coil springs, and specially tuned shock absorbers, among other mechanical tweaks aimed at giving it “track tuning”.