Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed the recently unveiled GR GT, the Japanese automaker’s new pinnacle high-performance offering, will make its way to SA.
Confirmed for South Africa, sited below the recently unveiled GR GT’s elongated bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which is paired with a single electric motor for combined power and torque outputs of at least 478 kW and 850 N.m. Drive is exclusively delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission — the latter featuring a wet-start clutch for sharper response. While straight-line performance figures have yet to be revealed, according to the Japanese automaker, the GR GT will reach a top speed of 320 km/h or more.
The GR GT is brought to a halt by Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, sited behind 20-inch alloy wheels. The latter items are wrapped in mixed-size, 265/35 ZR20 fore and 325/30 ZR20 aft Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres that have been specially developed for this model.
Toyota GR GT for SA
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has confirmed the GR GT will make its way to our market down the line. When the GR GT will officially arrive here remains unconfirmed, though. However, with a global launch planned for around 2027, we’d speculate the halo GR model will arrive in our market towards the end of 2027, or in 2028. However, while we wait for the local introduction of the GR GT, in 2026, TSAM will introduce a variety of new products – the latter including the new Hilux, the box-fresh Land Cruiser FJ and the next-generation RAV4 – to our shores.
A first for a Toyota, the GR GT’s body frame is all-aluminium, while the body panels are crafted from the same lightweight material and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The apex GR’s sharply styled sheet metal measures 1 195 mm in height, 2 000 mm in width, 4 820 mm in length, and 2 725 mm between the axles. Toyota targets a kerb mass of 1 750 kg or less for the production version, with a 45:55 weight distribution, front to rear.
The interior is centred around the driver, with Toyota placing focus on providing an optimal driving position and outward visibility. The digital instrumentation relays essential driving information, including when to shift up (via the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters), to the driver. Touchscreen infotainment, dual-zone climate control, and heating for the front seats and steering wheel are also present. A nose-lift system is included to prevent scratching that low front end.
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