Confirmed: Toyota Gazoo Racing developing hot EV

Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has confirmed the car-maker’s Gazoo Racing sports division is developing its first-ever high-performance EV that will feature a simulated manual transmission.

Toyota revealed a prototype with a virtual manual gearbox last year and recently announced it plans to roll out the technology in 2026.

However, this is the first time Toyota has confirmed the tech will be combined with the sportiest Gazoo Racing (GR) models.

Announcing he had personally driven the early prototypes, Toyoda said the future GR battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) will also have an inspiring soundtrack.

“The biggest difference to other BEVs we are developing is that, when you are in the GR BEV, you can actually hear the engine noises, even if you can’t smell gasoline,” Toyoda told Autocar at the recent Le Mans 24 Hours.

“There is also a manual transmission and a clutch. If you put someone in the car and asked them to drive it and guess the powertrain, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you.”

Toyoda went on to say the engineering development mule looked like a regular EV, suggesting it could be a member of an existing model line such as Supra, 86 or Corolla.

Regardless of the body style, Toyoda says the new family of sporty all-electric GRs must offer a fun-to-drive experience already offered by the likes of the GR Supra and GR Corolla.

Previously, Toyota engineers have said that the simulated manual transmissions could be used in hybrids, as well as full EVs.

Replicating existing tech, engineers have talked about simulating an engine stall if the driver’s clutch work isn’t up to the job.

First to be introduced with the manual tech could be the production version of the Lexus Electrified Sport Concept – the EV successor to the LFA supercar – that featured both a manual and a rev counter.

It was also capable of 2.0sec 0-100km/h sprint and a 700km range.

At the Le Mans 24 Hour, the Japanese car-maker presented a GR Prius concept and the hydrogen-powered GR H2 Racing Concept that it will race at the world-famous endurance race in 2026.

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