Toyota has slowly expanded its choices of GR-branded efficiency automobiles over time, with fashions just like the GR Corolla and GR Yaris attaining cult-like standing in some markets.
Not one of the automobiles characteristic electrification, however which will change quickly, Autocar reported on Wednesday, citing feedback from GR engineer Hiroyuki Yamada.
In keeping with the report, GR, which stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s official motorsports arm and efficiency sub-brand, is creating a hybrid powertrain that makes use of a newly developed 2.0-liter turbo-4 as its gasoline part. The transfer will allow Toyota to fulfill stricter emissions rules in each street automobile and motorsports purposes.
“We are able to use hybrid for future automobiles,” Yamada is quoted as saying. “This know-how we create we are going to apply to each motorsports and passenger engines.”
Toyota GR Yaris M prototype
The two.0-liter turbo-4 was introduced in January throughout the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon, with Toyota revealing it in a mid-engined GR Yaris prototype that rumor has it may very well be an early take a look at mule for a possible modern-day MR2 sports activities automobile. A contemporary Celica can also be a recipient for the engine.
In keeping with Autocar’s report, the engine contains a compact, light-weight design due to a shorter piston stroke, and each delicate hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations are supported—with outputs as excessive as 400 hp doable. Timing for the engine’s market launch, whether or not as a sole energy supply or forming a part of a hybrid setup, is unknown.
GR can also be considered creating an electrified V-8 engine for a brand new sports activities automobile that can seemingly find yourself marketed as a Lexus. This sports activities automobile has already been noticed testing and is anticipated to hit the market subsequent yr.
