Toyota, the future of Lexus and Gazoo Racing: “Sportsmanship remains a cornerstone”

The recent course of Toyota saw the Japanese manufacturer “split” into two souls that continue to coexist. On the one hand the electrified carsfrom the pioneering introduction of the full hybrid to the new plug-in hybrids up to pure electric ones, and on the other hand, a constant commitment to motorsports (with an official commitment in the WRC world rally championship and in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship FIA WEC) and the “jewels” of the division Gazoo Racingready to become a brand in its own right. Today more than ever these represent two sides of the same coin: without the widespread diffusion of low-emission hybrid cars, in fact, the Japanese company (which recently Japan Mobility Show Of Tokyo unveiled a strategy based on five independent brands Century, Lexus, Toyota, GR And Daihatsu) could not afford to build sports cars, having to stay below the threshold of average CO2 emissions of the range, beyond which the fines decided by the European Union are triggered. But can this balance continue to exist? And what role will the group’s leading manufacturer have, Lexus? We asked him Alberto SantilliCEO of Toyota Italy.

Given that Toyota registers a large number of full hybrid cars with low CO2 emissions, it can also afford to produce sportier models, while still remaining below the threshold beyond which fines would be triggered. Will we see other Gazoo Racing sports cars?
“​Certainly the sporting part remains a fundamental cornerstone of Toyota’s range strategy. By selling many cars with low CO2 emissions we can continue to develop sports cars, so motorsport and sportiness remain fundamental assets for Toyota, in which we can continue to invest thanks to the reduction of the average CO2 emissions of the range. Furthermore, we are carrying out research into the use of hydrogen as a fuel, so as to be able to keep the passion for motorsport intact and continue to reduce emissions in this context too harmful. Pursuing multiple technologies is among Toyota’s fundamental assets, which is a real one global company present on many markets with factories all over the world, in totally different contexts, from South America to Europe, from Asia to America. Very different places where every customer can have the right car for their needs and dreams.”

So will we see hydrogen sports cars in the future?
​”In Japan we already have a GR Corolla powered by hydrogen, for us it is not a provocation, but an area of ​​investment, a new frontier that we will be able to open in the coming years”.

And what direction will your luxury brand Lexus take?
​”Lexus must be the most extreme in terms of new technologies, new engines and new bodytype. It is Toyota’s frontier brand, therefore it introduces stylistic features and technologies that will then be spread across the rest of the range.”

The new WLTP approval cycle for plug-in hybrids will arrive in 2026. From some simulations there are those who quadruple their CO2, because consumption with a flat battery is taken into account. What impact can it have on your strategies?
“Toyota’s plug-in hybrid was born on a full hybrid platform, so when the battery is flat it continues to behave like a full hybrid. It is a “rechargeable full hybrid”, therefore the efficiency of our plug-in remains very high in any case.”

Initially it was feared that Chinese manufacturers would establish themselves with electric, but in reality they arrived with hybrid and thermal…
​”We ​​knew what they were selling in China and with that they landed in Europe. Not wanting to see the reality then makes us surprised today by the data we see in registrations in Europe, also in terms of super-hybrids (plug-in hybrids with high autonomy, ed). Our company has all the know-how necessary to put advanced and cutting-edge technologies on the market, so on this front we will see very interesting things from us too.”

In recent years Toyota’s growth has been very significant, also in volumes. How has this changed the relationship between dealers and the parent company?
“​Toyota places the customer at the center on the one hand and the dealer on the other, who continues to have a decisive role in following the customer step by step in his life with our cars. We have never had hesitations on this, the dealer is a company that works with us and invests with us, it must represent a point of reference for the local community. This is then demonstrated by how much we work together in improving processes, quality and personal training in the dealerships themselves. Thus we can continue the virtuous path of continuous improvement which ensures that Toyota dealerships become a point of reference for their communities. Maintaining relationships, structures and investments with dealers, without therefore proceeding with the disintermediation seen elsewhere, is a firm point of ours, in which we believe without any hesitation”.