Toyota unveiled the GR Super Sport concept last year, a hypercar inspired by the Le Mans–winning TS050 LMP1 prototype. Later Toyota announced that it will be putting the car into production, saying that it was part of Toyota’s plan to “develop sports cars from active race cars.”
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Now Toyota has released a video showing the upcoming hypercar undergoing testing around Fuji Speedway in Japan. The camouflaged test-mule sticks extremely closely to the concept in design with differences in the addition of honeycomb-shaped LED headlights, a modified rear diffuser design, different front air intakes, and a lack of holes on the inside of the front fenders.
The video also gives us our first look at the interior of the GR Super Sport. It has a digital speedometer, a very simple steering wheel, and a small dashboard pod that houses another screen and a bunch of controls. At the top of that pod is another screen that shows the view from behind the car; as it will have a camera in place of a rearview mirror. The rest of the interior is completely stripped out and covered in carbon fiber.
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Although Toyota hasn’t given any new information about the car’s powertrain, however the company had already released some details when the concept was first released. Its twin-turbo 2.4-liter V6 and hybrid system are taken directly from the TS050 that makes a total of 986 horsepower. Toyota hasn’t said what gearbox the production car will use, but the race car uses a 6-speed sequential manual transmission (or a 7-speed when racing at Le Mans).
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing team has also announced that it will be entering the GR Super Sport in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)’s 2020–2021 season, which will be adding a new “hypercar” class. The GR Super Sport will be going up against the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the only other car to have also confirmed entry into next year’s new class—at least as of right now. The season won’t start until a year from September, with Le Mans as the finishing race of the season in June 2021, so there is still time for other companies to jump in the mix.
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According to Toyota both GR Super Sport and its new racing counterpart are being designed and developed alongside each other and that the race car will begin track testing next year. The production GR Super Sport will likely be revealed at the 2019 Tokyo auto show in October.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
