GR Hilux likely? Toyota CEO opens door to more new GR models

Toyota’s new CEO has opened the door for the introduction of more Gazoo Racing (GR) models in spite of a senior engineer last year stating that no new products would be produced to compliment the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR Supra and GR86.

Roll-out confusion

In an interview in October to Australian media, Yasunori Suezawa, who heads the GR86’s engineering programme, remarked that the junior sibling of the Supra will be the last GR model Toyota will make as no plans are in place to expand the moniker to any other derivative.

As is stands, four stages of Gazoo Racing levels feature: the Toyota approved GR Parts that focuses on cosmetics, GR Sport that adds mechanical and chassis alterations, the full-bore GR models and the hardcore GRMN or Gazoo Racing Master of the Nürburgring designation currently only applicable to the Yaris.

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The u-turn

In contradicting Suezawa’s remarks, Koji Sato, who replaced Akio Toyoda in January this year, said the grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda, who goes by the alias of Morizo or Master Drive when racing, will now have “a lot more time to develop cars for” the GR division he now leads while still remaining at the helm of Toyota as its Chairman.

“The Gazoo brand will be acknowledged for the future – and maybe we can even speed it up,” Sato said in conversation with Britain’s Autocar when asked about the future of the GR brand.

What could be next?

MR2

Despite Sato not divulging any details as to which model could potentially be lined-up for a GR offshoot, what is known is that Toyota has been looking into producing a small sports car to finally succeed the MR2 that left production in 2007.

According to a report in February this year, the intended successor will draw visual inspiration from the Sports EV concept that debuted in 2021 as part of Toyota’s 16 product electric vehicle rollout, and build-off its partnership with Maruti Suzuki by deriving motivation from the latter’s 1.0-litre turbocharged Boosterjet engine.

GR Hilux

Another possibility rumoured almost three years ago, but equally dismissed as many times when brought up, is a GR version of the next generation Hilux anticipated to debut in 2025.

The long overdue rival for the Ford Ranger Raptor, the GR Hilux was said to have been developed, although alleged spy shots earlier this year turned out to be those of the widebody GR Sport sold exclusively in Australia.

Also rumoured for the GR moniker is a sedan believed to be spun-off of the Corolla or Camry, as well as a revived version of the Celica.

At present though, neither have been approved for production or confirmed as making a back in the case of the latter.

GR Corolla next

While Toyota is expected to make formal announcements and confirmations as the year continues, from a South Africa standpoint, attention is firmly placed on the GR Corolla that will complete the GR line-up from the second quarter of this year.

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