More Toyota GR sports cars coming, says new CEO

Toyota's new boss, Koji Sato, has suggested that more GR-branded sports cars will join Toyota's burgeoning Gazoo Racing brand under his leadership, Autocar [↗] reports.

Sato took the role of Toyota Motor Corporation CEO and President in January, after Akio Toyoda, grandson of the company founder, moved to become Chairman.

It was Toyoda, a noted motorsports enthusiast and racer, who in 2017 founded the GR sub-brand, as an impassioned supporter of Toyota's World Endurance and Rallying programs.

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Akio's title at Toyota was playfully printed as 'Master Driver'.

Sato, speaking to Autocar following Toyota's one-two finish in Belgium's WEC round at Spa, said: "The Gazoo brand will be acknowledged for the future – and maybe we can even speed it up."

"Our Master Driver was also President of the company at the same time as he had a steering wheel in his hand for Gazoo [Racing].

"Now he is 'only' Chairman, maybe he will have a lot more time to develop cars for them?"

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Toyota's range of GR sports car currently includes the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR 86 and GR GR Supra. Details on future models are scant, however rumours suggest Gazoo Racing is considering a performance version of the forthcoming electric bZ4X crossover, and has publicly announced its interest in hydrogen-combustion.

Toyota has previously shown a GR-branded open-top sports car which, if greenlit for production, could serve as a halo model and rival to the upcoming MG Cyberster, next-gen Porsche 718 or electric Alpine A110.

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