Toyota eyes high-performance SUV model for Gazoo Racing lineup
Toyota is considering adding a high-performance SUV to its Gazoo Racing lineup, according to GR boss Tomoya Takahashi. In an interview with Car Expert, Takahashi emphasized the necessity of an SUV for the brand's growth. He stated, "In the future, from my point of view, we need a GR SUV." He further explained that some people require SUVs due to family needs or space requirements.
Potential models for Gazoo Racing SUV unspecified
Takahashi did not disclose which specific model might receive the GR treatment. However, he suggested that it would likely be one of Toyota's larger SUVs due to their spaciousness. The Yaris Cross and C-HR were ruled out for this reason. Speculation suggests that the Land Cruiser could be a potential candidate for the GR upgrade, but no official confirmation has been made yet.
Gazoo Racing's future expansion requires careful model selection
Takahashi noted that Gazoo Racing must carefully choose the right model for future expansion, due to limited resources and budget constraints. Currently, Toyota offers the Yaris, Corolla, 86, and Supra in full GR guise. Only the Yaris has given birth to a hotter GRMN derivative so far. The decision to move toward a performance SUV aligns with mainstream automakers' trend of selling enhanced versions of their SUVs.
