Toyota’s Gazoo Racing Eyes High-Performance SUV Addition

Toyota’s GR boss, Tomoya Takahashi, reveals plans for a high-performance GR SUV to meet the needs of families and expand the Gazoo Racing brand.

Raise your hand if you saw this coming: Toyota is considering adding a high-performance SUV to its growing Gazoo Racing (GR) lineup. While the GR Sport visual treatment has already enhanced several models, a true performance SUV has yet to hit dealerships. That might soon change.

In a conversation with Australian magazine Car Expert, GR boss Tomoya Takahashi emphasized the need for a GR SUV, noting its practicality for families or those needing more space. «In the future, from my point of view, we need a GR SUV,» he said. «To expand our brand, maybe an SUV is needed.»

Takahashi did not specify which model might receive the GR treatment, but it would likely be one of Toyota’s larger SUVs since the Yaris Cross and C-HR lack sufficient space. The bZ4X is also unlikely. The Land Cruiser, specifically the LC 250/Prado available in the U.S. and/or the larger LC300 sold in select markets, seems a strong candidate. A GR RAV4, potentially positioned above the 302-horsepower Prime, could also be a logical addition.

Takahashi acknowledged the challenges of expanding the GR portfolio, citing limited resources and budget constraints that prevent launching multiple new products simultaneously. Currently, the Yaris, Corolla, 86, and Supra are available in full GR versions, with only the Yaris having a GRMN variant.

It’s somewhat surprising that Toyota has taken this long to consider a performance SUV, given that other automakers have been successfully selling sporty SUV versions for years. Volkswagen, for example, offers the T-Roc R, Tiguan R, and Touareg R, while Hyundai and Kia have the Ioniq 5 N and EV6 GT, respectively.

Ultimately, whether the GR badge on a high-performance SUV will attract customers and justify a premium price remains to be seen. The market’s response will determine its success.