Bill’s rage and Brooke’s slap left Katie injured The Bold and The Beautiful Spoilers

Toyota’s Electric Evolution: The Next Chapter in Performance and Luxury For automotive enthusiasts in the United States, the promise of new sports cars from Toyota has long been a topic of eager anticipation. The company, known for its reliability and engineering prowess, is reportedly making a significant push into the high-performance segment with a trio of exciting new models. These vehicles, including the much-anticipated GR GT, the GR GT3 race car, and a potential new Lexus LFA, signal a bold new direction for Toyota, one that embraces cutting-edge technology, motorsports heritage, and the unwavering spirit of innovation. The GR GT: A Masterpiece of Engineering and Design At the forefront of this exciting lineup is the Toyota GR GT, a road-legal version of the GR GT3 race car that is slated for production in 2027, potentially arriving as a 2028 model. This vehicle is being positioned as a halo car for the GR (Gazoo Racing) brand, representing Toyota’s commitment to performance, driving dynamics, and cutting-edge technology. One of the most striking features of the GR GT is its complex and fiendishly engineered hybrid powertrain. The base engine is an all-aluminum V8 with forged internals, which is twin-turbocharged to produce an estimated 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent through a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) “torque tube” to a transaxle that houses a hybrid system’s electric motor and an eight-speed transmission. The design of the transaxle is particularly noteworthy. The sharply cut and polished gears and shafts, as seen in the cutaway models, resemble something out of a watchmaker’s dream, especially at the rear where a conical set of gears sends the hybridized horsepower forward to a mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD) that portions output to the rear wheels via half shafts. While the powertrain engineers claim this arrangement reduces the overall length of the powertrain, it also appears to be a strategic move to send a strong message about Toyota’s manufacturing capabilities and its commitment to preserving the art of car-making. The GR GT also features a mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD), which should allow for highly engaging driving dynamics and tire-scorching shenanigans. According to project manager Takashi Doi, the team is working on different driving modes, but the specifics remain under wraps. However, a look at the GR GT’s steering wheel provides some clues, with a knob on the right labeled ‘Sport Boost’ and a button on the lower left for traction and stability control, labeled ‘TRC/VSC’ and marked ‘Off.’ When asked if drivers would be allowed to turn traction and stability completely off, Doi eventually said yes. The GR GT is expected to be priced at more than $200,000, putting it in direct competition with premium sports cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT. Given the vehicle’s projected 641 hp and 3858-pound curb weight, it boasts a weight-to-power ratio of 6.0 lb/hp, which is competitive with top-tier rivals. This pricing strategy reflects Toyota’s intent to position the GR GT as a flagship vehicle, one that pushes the boundaries of performance, technology, and design. Nürburgring Nordschleife: From Humiliation to Redemption A major driving force behind the development of the GR GT and GR GT3 is Akio “Master Driver Morizo” Toyoda, the grandson of the company’s founder and the visionary behind Gazoo Racing. Morizo has been vocal about his personal experiences at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where he often felt humbled by faster, better-handling sports cars, particularly from German automakers. Morizo’s vision of using “humiliation as a force for improvement” has become a guiding principle for the GR team. While Doi-san declined to confirm a specific lap time target, such as a sub-7-minute lap set by rivals like the Mustang GTD, Corvette ZR1, and Corvette ZR1X, he did affirm the importance of the Nürburgring to Toyota, the GR brand, and the company’s motorsports programs. He reiterated Morizo’s position that the GR GT would not be the one getting passed on the Green Hell. Considering the modesty and humility of Japanese automotive engineers, this is essentially a declaration that the GR GT will achieve a sub-7-minute lap, especially since various 911 GT3 and AMG GT models have already dipped well below that barrier. The GR GT’s ambitious performance goals demonstrate Toyota’s determination to compete at the highest levels of motorsports and to prove that Japanese engineering can deliver world-class performance and handling. The Lexus LFA: A New Chapter in Luxury Sports Cars In addition to the GR GT, Toyota is also reportedly working on a new Lexus LFA, a spiritual successor to the legendary V10 supercar that was produced from 2010 to 2012. The new LFA is expected to be a radical departure from its predecessor, as it will likely be an all-electric vehicle utilizing cutting-edge solid-state battery (SSB) technology. Toyota has been at the forefront of SSB research and development since 2020, when it established a joint venture with Panasonic named Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc. In 2024, Toyota released an update on its battery plans, showing SSB arriving in 2027 to 2028 with a range of 621 miles (1000 km) and recharging times of approximately 10 minutes. This kind of battery performance would represent a huge technological leap, which is exactly what Lexus may be looking for in its flagship sports car. One of the biggest challenges facing the new LFA is packaging. Traditional lithium-ion cells, pouches or packs, can be sandwiched ahead of the firewall and under the cabin floor, but the GR GT’s all-aluminum spaceframe chassis shares between the GR GT, GR GT3, and LFA Concept doesn’t have a traditional floorpan ahead of the front firewall but thick structural members instead. What little floor there is spans the compact two-passenger cabin, ending at the rear bulkhead ahead of the transaxle. The use of “T-shaped” battery packs has been popular with aftermarket EV swappers, so anything is possible—including the use of smaller, lighter, more energy dense SSB technology. Doi-san conceded that the world has changed since the original LFA departed the market in 2012, and that coming back as an EV complicates things. This appears to be a subtle implication that the next-generation LFA will be less than $350,000. The market for luxury sports coupes is already minuscule, and there are currently no electric sports coupes north of $200,000. However, the new LFA’s potential use of solid-state batteries could make it a game-changing vehicle, offering superior range and faster charging times compared to current EVs. Bigger Picture: Tech Transfer and Motorsports Are the Keys to Toyota’s Future The launch of the GR GT, GR GT3, and Lexus LFA is not just about producing new sports cars; it’s about preserving and passing on fundamental car-making skills to the next generation of Toyota engineers, project managers, and executives. Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu, a traditional Japanese shrine ritual where the core structures and elements are rebuilt every few decades, serves as a platform for artisans of a wide range of traditional Japanese crafts—including architecture, blacksmithing, and weaving—to pass on their skills to the next generation. Toyota’s Shikinen Sengu through the making of sports cars by preserving and passing on to the next generation fundamental car-making skills and incorporating new technologies. By launching an all-new high-performance brand in GR, and tasking engineers across the company to build two flagship sports cars and one bonkers race car, each with a unique powertrain, Akio is not merely lighting hundreds of millions of dollars on fire, he’s giving the next generation of Toyota engineers, project managers, and executives the highest-profile opportunities to build world-class vehicles and race them at the highest levels. Speaking of which, it’s clear motorsports will also play a huge role in the future of Toyota. Just before the GR GT and GR T3 race car were unveiled, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) announced it would become the title sponsor of the Haas Formula 1 team, which now goes by TGR HAAS Formula 1. Toyota has a long and rich history in across all major racing disciplines, such as Formula 1, World Rally, 24 Hours of Le Mans, NASCAR, NHRA, and Super GT. Audi, Cadillac, and Ford are all entering F1 next year in some capacity, as well. Conspicuously absent from the global motorsports arena? The rising Chinese car companies. While their \”new energy vehicles\” are taking market share away from big OEMs in major markets around the world, they look a little one note without brand-burnishing sports cars that race at the highest levels. The Road Ahead: Excitement and Anticipation In a couple of years, if you see a GR GT3 racing at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, a GR GT drawing crowds at your local cars and coffee, and maybe even a due date for the new Lexus EV flagship, you’ll know Akio’s plan to reinforce the depth and breadth of Toyota’s automaking might and project the strength and legacy of its brands into the future is well underway. The GR GT, GR