Past, Present, and Future
Toyota is showcasing its flagship sports car lineage in a short, dramatic commercial filmed on a banked oval, starring the 2000GT, the Lexus LFA, and the upcoming GR GT. The sequence highlights the evolution of Toyota performance machines, punctuated by each car’s distinct sound, building to the all-new model’s unprecedented twin-turbo hybrid V8.
Expected to launch in 2027, the GR GT is projected to make 641 horsepower, putting it squarely in Porsche 911 Turbo territory. Toyota says these early figures may still improve by the time the production version arrives. Beyond raw output, the hybrid system’s single electric motor helps the car meet tightening emissions regulations.
A Lineage Built on Speed
The Toyota 2000GT’s 150 horsepower may seem modest next to the GR GT’s projected 641 hp, but in its era, the 2000GT was a breakthrough. Powered by a 2.0-liter inline-six, it set three world records and 13 international endurance marks, including a 206.18 km/h (128 mph) average over 72 hours in 1966.
The car most enthusiasts recognize, the Lexus LFA, appeared in its Nürburgring Package spec – the same configuration that secured a 7:14.64 lap at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2011, the fastest production-legal run of its day. Power comes from a 4.8-liter 1LR-GUE V10, widely regarded as one of the best-sounding engines ever built.
Passing the Torch of Performance
Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda described the trio as an expression of “Shikinen Sengu,” the philosophy of periodic renewal. Shot using a high-speed drone, the commercial opens with the 2000GT, followed by the LFA sweeping past on the outside. The GR GT then makes the final overtake, after which all three cars are captured together in a closing aerial shot.
While absent from the shoot, Toyota also recently revealed the GR GT3 and the Lexus LFA Concept. The former is the GR GT’s GT3-homologated race version, while the latter previews a potential all-electric successor promising fake engine sounds to retain emotional engagement.
