Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept Is Cool, But Still Not Ready For The Road

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Mar 6, 2018

How much of it will we see on the street?

Arguably the most anticipated return for 2018, the Toyota Supra is finally official now that the Japanese firm unveiled the GR Supra Racing Concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Sure, it's still a concept, and it looks a bit too wild for a production model, but it's not as radical as the FT-1 Concept from a few years ago. More importantly, it sports many of the features seen on the camouflaged test cars, a sign that a production model with a toned-down design just around the corner.

Created by Gazoo Racing, Toyota's motorsport division, the Supra looks ready to hit any FIA series that's running today. It even looks very familiar when compared to both the camouflaged prototypes and the latest-generation Supra. The pointy noise, the wide headlamps, the protruding trunk lid and the roofline, all point out to the Supra model that was discontinued in 2002. If this thing sheds just a few racing features in order to become a road-legal production car, the new Supra will be one hot sports car!

But the massive wing, for instance, could be a sign of things to come. Word has it that the new Supra will be made available in various trims, including a more extreme version with aggressive aerodynamics. Granted, it won't look as menacing as this race car concept, but it could use some of the features seen here.

But let's focus on the concept for a bit, as it is one of the hottest I've seen in a while. The massive vents in the front bumper, the louvered engine hood, and the big flics at the corner make the GR Supra ready to tackle race tracks around the world. There's more motorsport goodness onto the sides, starting with the extremely wide side skirts and rear fenders and the aero-optimized side mirrors with thin posts. The rear is as sexy as they get, thanks to the massive wing, the huge outlets that flank the fascia, and the big diffuser with very tall fins. The F1-style light in the middle and the center-mounted exhaust pipe complete the car's tremendous look.

The cabin is just as extreme as a Le Mans prototype. The dashboard may look like a production unit, but it's actually just a shell wrapped in Alcantara. The instrument cluster was replaced by a small screen on the steering wheel, which is packed with buttons and knobs like on any serious race car. More controls are available on what appears to be a carbon-fiber center console.

All told, Toyota didn't have much to say beyond the fact that the concept car will be featured in a new update of the Gran Turismo Sport video game. No word on whether the concept will go racing in the real world or how much of it will become a road-legal production car. But have no fear, the Supra is returning in 2018. We just have to wait for a few months.

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