Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyota GR performance brand is gunning for Mercedes-AMG

Toyota's new Gazoo Racing performance division is looking to take on established rivals with hot Yaris, Supra and GT86 models.

Toyota Yaris GRMN - rear badge

Toyota has launched a new global high-performance sub-brand that is set to rival BMW’s M Division, Mercedes’ AMG and Audi’s RS editions, claim company insiders.

Known simply as GR – which stands for Gazoo Racing – Toyota’s new performance division will roll out globally over the next few years, and will appear on most new Toyotas. The first of these to reach the UK is the new Yaris GRMN

Advertisement - Article continues below

• New Toyota Supra set to debut at Geneva 2018

The GR brand will appear in ascending order of potency in three different guises on new Toyotas; as a basic GR, as a more aggressive GR Sport and finally as a no-holds barred GRMN, where the MN stands for “Meisters Nurburgring.”

Gazoo Racing has long been a skunkworks project at Toyota, appearing on the side of limited edition tuned Toyotas within the home Japanese market and representing the company’s internal racing projects, particularly at the Nurburgring 24h. But from now on it will become a global high-performance road car brand in much the same vein as AMG and BMW’s M Division. 

The next car that comes to the UK to feature GR branding will be the all-new Toyota Supra, which will be launched at Geneva this year and appear on UK roads in 2019.

Following this will be GR versions of the next GT86 and numerous other members of the range. “There’s no reason why the GR brand can’t be applied to any or all Toyotas in future,” a company insider told Auto Express. If they can apply the top-flight level to the Yaris, then they can apply it to any Toyota, goes the current thinking. 

How do you like Toyota GR's chances of eclipsing Mercedes-AMG? Have your say in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Toyota bZ7 is a £17,000 electric saloon, but it’s not coming here
Toyota bZ7 - front 3/4 static

New Toyota bZ7 is a £17,000 electric saloon, but it’s not coming here

Toyota is looking to expand its bZ-branded EV range
News
23 Apr 2025
Best Toyota cars: Our top Toyotas present and past
Best Toyota Cars - header

Best Toyota cars: Our top Toyotas present and past

Want to know which are the best Toyotas to buy? Here is our guide to the brand’s best cars, present and past
Best cars & vans
22 Apr 2025
Toyota MR2 (Mk2, 1989-1999) icon review: mid-engined thrills for the masses
Toyota MR2 Mk2 - front tracking

Toyota MR2 (Mk2, 1989-1999) icon review: mid-engined thrills for the masses

The Toyota MR2 was nicknamed the ‘poor man’s Ferrari’, but was that actually high praise rather than the insult it was intended to be?
Road tests
25 Mar 2025
Shanghai Motor Show 2025: what all the big car brands are up to
Shanghai Motor Show 2025 - header

Shanghai Motor Show 2025: what all the big car brands are up to

The Shanghai Auto Show is now an established part of the automotive calendar – we’ve got a full list of show debuts
News
25 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025