Toyota is set to transform its Gazoo Racing motorsport arm into a performance road car brand to rival the likes of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.
The first model to come from a Gazoo-badged road model is believed to be a hot Toyota Yaris, produced to rival the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTI.
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In addition to co-ordinating Toyota’s international motorsport activities in, for instance, the World Endurance Championship and World Rally Championship, Gazoo Racing fettles road cars that are sold on the Japanese market. It sells limited-edition machines under two banners: GRMN (Gazoo Racing Masters of Nürburgring) and G’s.
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Koei Saga, the boss of both Gazoo Racing and Toyota’s powertrain division, said it “is my intention” to increase Gazoo’s presence in road car markets other than Japan to promote the link between its racing and road car activities.
He said: “In Europe, the challenge is bigger because we have more competitors here, and it is also an issue of cost. However, I am very much working on that so we can have a brand like the M brand.”
The latest Gazoo-tuned car was the GT86 GRMN. It featured a raft of changes, including modest power and torque increases, tweaked suspension and aerodynamics and a weight reduction through the use of lightweight panels. Limited to 100 units, it quickly sold out.
Another GT86, the GRMN Sports FR Concept, was showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2012. It had a 2.0-litre engine that was turbocharged and supercharged to 315bhp.
Saga would not comment on whether Gazoo Racing has a role in the project between Toyota and BMW that will spawn the next Supra and Z5.
