Summary
- Toyota is set to release an all-electric sports car in 2026, marking their return to the electric game and aiming to compete with larger brands in the EV sector.
- The 2026 GR Electric Sports Car is expected to feature cutting-edge design and may include a simulated manual gearbox to give drivers a classic race car feel.
- Toyota is in the final stages of testing solid-state batteries and plans to introduce an all-electric lineup by 2026, showing their commitment to going green and meeting the demands of a changing climate.
Soon, drivers will be able to enter the future of driving excitement with the 2026 Toyota GR Electric sports car. Get ready to be wowed by everything this electrifying beast has to offer. We've been eagerly waiting for Toyota's Gazoo Racing division to work its magic on an all-electric sports car, and the countdown to its 2026 release is on.
Remember when Toyota shook up the car scene with the Prius? Well, It is about to work its magic again, but this time, it's all about electrifying sports performance. While Toyota has been exploring hydrogen and hybrids, it is stepping back into the electric game with a bang. Joining forces with its Gazoo Racing team, Toyota has promises of an all-electric sports car by 2026, and people are talking.
You might wonder, can Toyota make an electric car as thrilling as their iconic sports models? We've got the scoop on everything buzzing about this upcoming release. From a simulated manual gearbox to cutting-edge design, this EV could change the game forever.
An Electric Sports Car From Toyota? One's Coming In 2026
Recently, Toyota announced its all-electric sports car endeavor with the 2026 GR Electric. Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard mumblings about a potential EV sports car, but it is the first time Toyota has confirmed a release and given us a broad range of details, etc. During a presentation with investors, Toyota's higher-ups promised an all-electric sports car within "the next three calendar years," which is a big deal.
After all, we've been seeing more and more companies switch from gasoline to battery packs for powering their supercars, and Toyota appears to be doing the same. In partnership with its Gazoo Racing team, Toyota has big ambitions for this sports car to be loud, sexy, and powerful. There might even be an addition of a faux manual gear shift to give drivers that classic race car feel, so stay tuned for that.
The sports car was announced during Toyota's Financial Year 2023 briefing, confirming plans for 10 new U.S.- and China-aimed EVs by 2026.
Toyota has its eyes on the renewable market, hoping to break through the EV sector and compete with larger brands already farther along in their release schedule. After all, a high-performance sports car in collaboration with Gazoo Racing always excites, especially when it's an all-electric model. This would be the company's first electric sports car, so there's undoubtedly a lot of pressure riding on them.
We Don't Have Official Renderings... Yet
- There are no official renderings of the 2026 GR Electric Sports Car.
- Many believe this model will resemble current or future releases.
Because the 2026 Toyota GR Electric Sports Car is a few years away, Toyota has not released any official rendering for this exact vehicle. Still, the brand has released a broader visual with a design that could easily be this one's blueprint. Unsurprisingly, Toyota wants to keep this model a secret until the details are smoothed out. The brand hasn't done this before, so it would be a shame if they leaked something and had to take it back.
However, Toyota has been streamlining its fleet with sharper designs incorporated tech and is rumored to have solid-state batteries in the final testing stages. These advancements will hopefully mean an iconic 2026 GR release, mainly because the market will be dramatically different by then. Most car manufacturers are going green by 2030, so Toyota is shifting slightly slower and more precisely. That may be great for the brand, but we'll have to wait and see.
Another exciting leak is that Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has confirmed the company is testing an electric sports car prototype with a manual transmission. That would follow Hyundai's footsteps, in which they have seen significant success within their Ioniq lineup.
Toyota should release official renderings of the 2026 GR Electric Sports Car soon. They are likely waiting because specific details aren't 100 percent confirmed, which would make design sharing a bad idea from a PR standpoint.
Toyota's Newest Electric Sports Car Will Have A Manual Gearbox
Something that Toyota has been testing inside its new EV sports car is a manual gearbox. Of course, this manual "transmission" would be a simulated version to give you the feeling of shifting gears en route, all through video game-like technology. After all, we've seen other brands do this, like Hyundai, and received excellent customer feedback. A major part of driving a race car is the sound, feel, and control you, the driver, possess, which Toyota hopes to replicate with the 2026 GR Electric Sports Car.
Many EV drivers want to incorporate manual tech into their vehicles because it gives them a finite control of acceleration and a fun factor that will otherwise disappear when electric cars are the majority. Toyota and Gazoo Racing are well aware of this fear, which, with the simulated manual transmission, should give customers a taste of the past (with a futuristic twist).
By 2026, we'd expect many other brands will use this idea in their cars, with Toyota hopefully being a leader. Hyundai has done this, but not in a sports car at the caliber of what the GR model would. It's also worth noting that this manual gearbox serves no purpose inside the vehicle. This would be 100 percent aesthetic and doesn't affect your vehicle's battery. It's more of a 'fun' perk for Toyota EV drivers.
Toyota Has Finally Decided To Go All-In On Electric
- Toyota will introduce an all-electric lineup by 2026.
- The company is in the final stages of testing solid-state batteries.
As of 2023, we haven't had many released from Toyota that are fully electric or even partially electric. Over the past few years, the brand has been slow to adapt this production method and branding, leaning more heavily into hybrid technology. After all, the Toyota Prius put the company on the map for those wanting a greener car, but that's where many felt their efforts ended.
However, Toyota plans to introduce a full lineup of electric Toyota and Lexus cars by 2026, which signifies the company has been considering this idea for at least five or ten years. After all, creating prototypes, testing batteries, and bringing a car to market doesn't happen overnight. Before debuting, many brands worked tirelessly on EVs for years, so let's not grab the pitchforks *yet.*
Toyota has also likely seen pressure from investors to 'go green,' considering that's what sells as of now. With the climate dramatically changing for many drivers, making a small difference by the car you drive has become more attractive to the everyday person in the past five years. Toyota has the opportunity to do something amazing with its power and resources, and according to EV plans, it will. There have been many reports of the brand perfecting solid-state batteries for these new EVs, promising double, if not triple, the current range of the competition.
Solid-state technology squashes lithium-ion in many ways, including safety, range, charge time, and lifespan. Therefore, Toyota holding off on 100 percent renewable driving could be a strategic (and smart) move. Let's hope it all works out, and the 2026 GR Electric Sports Car purrs loudly.