Toyota fires up new Supercars V8 engine
Toyota fires up new-for-2026 Supercars engine
Japanese manufacturer's arrival will come with V8 power
Supras to compete with 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated 2UR-GSE V8
Toyota has offered a sneak peek into 2026, with the Japanese manufacturer firing up the engine that will power its Supras next season.
Confirmed alongside the Japanese brand’s historic move into Supercars, Toyota's arrival will come with V8 power.
The GR Supra Supercars will compete with Toyota's 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated 2UR-GSE V8, which has been used Lexus F performance models, as well as the current LC500.
It continues the V8 blueprint made famous in the 1990s, with Ford and Chevrolet both debuting new engines as the Gen3 era kicked off last year.
While current Supercars rules permit other engine configurations, no manufacturer has raced anything but a V8 since 1993. Ford's current Coyote engine is a 5.4L dual overhead cam V8, while Chevrolet teams use a naturally aspirated fuel injected 5.7 litre LTR V8.
Last year, when asked if a six-cylinder was an option, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley claimed it was discussed for "about three minutes" before adding "actually it was probably about one [minute].”
"What a sound," said Hanley of the engine fire-up.
"We knew the 2UR-GSE would sound great, but hearing it at full noise? Absolutely spine-tingling. This isn’t just an engine roar; it’s the sound of passion, precision, and progress.
"A huge shoutout to our incredible partners at WAU, Supercars, and the broader Toyota Motorsport family. Every bolt turned, every part made, every late night has brought us to this milestone. And while there’s still plenty of work ahead, today we celebrate a special moment.
"The GR Supra is one step closer to hitting the grid for Round One next year, and we couldn’t be more proud."
WAU Team Principal Carl Faux added: “It’s alive! It’s been awesome to hear the 2UR-GSE roar to life, it’s all becoming very real now.
"A huge amount of work has been undertaken by all involved to hit this milestone, and we are even closer to the GR Supra hitting the track. We can’t wait for people to see and hear it in the flesh.”
The first Toyota GR Supra Supercar will be unveiled at a Sydney launch event on Monday September 1, in the lead-up to October's Repco Bathurst 1000, where a car will also be on display.
Homologation team Walkinshaw Andretti United will run two Supras, while Brad Jones Racing will run four.
A prototype Supra is set to hit the track in coming weeks, with a Supra to join a Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro in the United States for wind tunnel testing in December.
