Toyota Says “Never Say Never” to a New Supra — or an All-New GR Sports Car
Toyota’s performance car story has been one of remarkable evolution over the past decade. Ever since the Toyota Supra was revived in 2019 through a partnership with BMW, the Japanese automaker has demonstrated a renewed passion for high-performance engineering. Its Gazoo Racing (GR) division has since delivered game-changing models such as the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, earning Toyota a seat at the table among top performance brands.
Now, with the current Supra nearing the end of its production cycle, Toyota is hinting that its next sports car may not require any external collaboration. In a surprising twist, the company says it could go solo — building a new high-performance model entirely under the Toyota GR banner.
A New Era for Gazoo Racing
Toyota’s history of partnerships in the performance space is well-documented. The GT 86, launched in 2012, was co-developed with Subaru, while the A90 Supra shared much of its engineering with the BMW Z4. Subaru then returned to help create the second-generation GR 86, solidifying a pattern of collaboration.
But during a recent interview with Drive Australia, Toyota’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, confirmed that things might soon change.
“The answer is yes; we can do this on our own,” Hanley said. “This is what GR is about. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t learn from our partnerships — BMW builds some seriously good cars, and we learned an incredible amount about performance vehicles through that collaboration.”
Hanley went on to tease that a standalone Toyota Gazoo Racing sports car could indeed happen:
“Can I ever see a day where we do our own independent Toyota GR performance car? Yes, yes, and yes. You’ll have to wait and see.”
Supra, Celica, or Something Entirely New?
Toyota fans, naturally, are hoping this could mean the return of the legendary Supra nameplate. Hanley himself didn’t confirm any specific model, but he did acknowledge its strong emotional connection:
“Supra has an incredibly strong legacy statement. You never say never.”
Rumors have already circulated that Toyota may have greenlit the next-generation Supra, with an expected debut around 2027. Meanwhile, whispers within the automotive world suggest that Toyota could revive the Celica, another icon from the brand’s performance heritage. Reportedly, the upcoming Celica would feature a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive GR powertrain pushing nearly 400 horsepower, positioning it as a true rival to models like the Porsche 718 Cayman and Alpine A110.
If Toyota does proceed with these plans, the future of its sports car lineup could be more diverse — and more exciting — than ever before.
Gazoo Racing’s Future Vision
Gazoo Racing has become a powerful sub-brand for Toyota, blending motorsport expertise with daily drivability. From rally-bred models to track-ready coupes, GR represents Toyota’s racing DNA. A new, fully in-house performance model would mark a bold step toward independence and innovation, strengthening Toyota’s position in a competitive market dominated by electrification and SUV trends.
Whether the next chapter bears the Supra, Celica, or an entirely new badge, one thing is clear: Toyota’s commitment to driving excitement isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
