Toyota's Priciest Supercar Shares a Trait with Lexus' Most Affordable Sedan | Carscoops
The new GR GT features some interior design elements reminiscent of a nearly 13-year-old Lexus sedan, hinting at a potential connection in Toyota's approach.
Some components of the GR GT's interior resemble parts from the Lexus IS, with shared vents and trim indicating smart parts-bin engineering. Upscale cars have traditionally repurposed mainstream parts.
Toyota has recently unveiled the GR GT supercar, which is intended to be the pinnacle of the brand’s global portfolio. While the exterior is striking and aerodynamically focused, it is the interior that stands out.
If you examine the official images closely, you may find some surprisingly familiar design aspects. Certain elements echo a nearly 13-year-old Lexus that is actually the most affordable sedan in the company’s range—hardly what you'd expect from a flagship model.
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The IS sedan is the one in question, and the link is quite apparent. Notably, the upholstery of the GR GT is finished in a color that closely resembles Lexus’ Radiant Red.
While the GR GT certainly has its unique touches, including suede on the upper dashboard and carbon fiber trim throughout, the air vents particularly stand out as being directly adapted from the Lexus IS.
Shared Origins or Just Similar Styling?
The dashboard of the GR GT can be compared to that of the Lexus IS.
The third generation of the IS has been in existence since 2013, undergoing a minor refresh in 2017, a significant redesign in 2020, and another update scheduled for 2025. The last update brought a more aggressive appearance and a revised interior with the modern sci-fi-inspired climate vents now found in the GR GT.
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The IS has had a lengthy presence; its third generation launched in 2013 and has since enjoyed three major updates: a small one in 2017, a major redesign in 2020, and further adjustments set for 2025.
The last update introduced a sharper front design and an interior overhaul featuring those sci-fi style climate vents now seen in the GR GT.
Considering the timeline, one might argue that these features were initially designed with the GR GT in mind. If that's the case, Toyota may have repurposed them to rejuvenate the aging IS rather than the reverse. However, this remains speculation.
Japanese outlet Creative Trend has noted that the aircraft-inspired toggle switches on the center console resemble those in the Lexus, but while they share a general form and finish, the GR GT’s six switches are boxier and broader compared to the eight found in the IS.
Additionally, similar to Ferrari’s recent move to reintroduce physical buttons for users frustrated with touch controls, the GR GT also shows some originality with its own set of buttons, steering wheel dials, and paddle shifters. The gear selector on the center console is distinct, sharing some design traits with the current Toyota RAV4 but executed with a sharper design.
It wouldn't be surprising if features from the GR GT later appear in upcoming Gazoo Racing models such as the revived Celica or MR2. Digital components like the instrument cluster or infotainment display can easily be updated with different graphics, further facilitating platform sharing.
The Old Game of Shared Parts
Obviously, this overlap in components is not a new phenomenon. Luxury and limited-production vehicles have historically utilized corporate parts, even as modern manufacturing methods like 3D printing allow for more differentiation at lower costs.
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There are many examples of this. Audi switchgear is now commonly found in Lamborghinis within the VW Group, and Maserati has used parts from Chrysler and Dodge, both part of Stellantis.
Going further back, the list of shared components becomes even more diverse. The Lamborghini Diablo notoriously featured Nissan headlights, while the Jaguar XJ220 had taillights from a Rover 200 and mirrors from a Citroen CX. The McLaren F1 borrowed taillights from a bus and mirrors from a Volkswagen, while the Aston Martin DB7 used taillights from a Mazda 323F.
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Toyota's Priciest Supercar Shares a Trait with Lexus' Most Affordable Sedan | Carscoops
The new GR GT reflects certain interior design elements from a Lexus sedan that is nearly 13 years old, indicating a potential connection in Toyota's approach.
