Toyota Trademark Fuels Speculation of High-Performance Flagship

By Jeff Gibbs

In a surprising twist, a recent trademark fling by Toyota has introduced ambiguity regarding the forthcoming supercar from Lexus, suggesting that the anticipated successor to the Lexus LFA supercar may carry the Toyota badge. The trademark application for the name ‘GR GT’ has reignited discussions about the fagship of Toyota’s performancecar lineup and the potential deviation from a luxury badge for the high-performance model.

The revelation, uncovered by Autoguide, unveils a new perspective, hinting that the GR GT name might be linked to the GR GT3 Concept race car showcased by Toyota two years ago. Initially presented as a motorsports-exclusive vehicle, the concept hinted at a possible road-legal version to meet GT3 racing requirements. Contrary to earlier indications that the fnal version of the GR GT3 concept would be branded as a Lexus, the recent trademark fling raises the prospect of Toyota reclaiming the fagship status.

The ‘GR GT’ name, with echoes of Toyota’s sports car legacy, particularly the iconic Toyota 2000GT, now holds the key to potential rebranding within Toyota’s highperformance lineup.

Previous assumptions leaning towards Lexus badging have been called into question, adding a layer of intrigue to the future of this supercar.

While it was thought that the GT3 Concept might replace the RC F within the GT3 category and carry a Lexus badge, the recent trademark fling has rekindled discussions about the possibility of Toyota badging. The GR GT3 Concept, which has been seen testing in race-ready form with petrol power, is expected to maintain this powertrain for its road-going version, steering away from the prevalent trend of electric propulsion.

Reports from Japan suggest that the car may be known as the Lexus LFR, featuring a combination of a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V8 and an electric motor, promising close to 1000 horsepower (about 750kW). This potential nomenclature sets it apart from previous speculations of a batterypowered coupe from

Gazoo Racing alongside Mazda.

The unveiling of the Toyota GR GT3 Concept has sparked interest not only in its potential branding but also in its design, with a strikingly similar silhouette to the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept of 2015. Recent developments, including Mazda’s announcement of a rotary engine development group, add further intrigue to the evolving narrative of these high-performance vehicles, hinting at the dynamic landscape of the automotive industry.