Toyota’s GR Supra Will Finally Get A V8 In 2026 – But Don’t Empty Your Savings Just Yet

Toyota finally delivers the news that many fans have been waiting for. The GR Supra will finally get a V8 powerplant next year.

Unfortunately, the (pretty big) catch is that it’s only planned for their upcoming entry into Australia’s Repco Supercars Championship.

While that won’t be the news most of you were hoping to read, this clip of the screaming V8 in action will likely help soften the blow for a moment:

So, yeah. Unfortunately, your dreams of owning a road-ready V8-powered GR Supra drift car (from the factory, at least) will have to remain on the back burner for now.

The purpose-built V8 GR Supra was designed specifically for Toyota’s entry into the Australian championship, with the high-revving, all-aluminum 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated 2UR-GSE V8, co-developed with Yamaha, delivering the goods.

Right now, the engine is only found in a few road cars – the Lexus IS F, RC F, and the current-model LC500.

However, this motorsport variant has been tuned and tweaked by Walkinshaw Andretti United in the U.K. and Craig Hasted in Australia. It has already proven its worth in motorsport, including powering Toyota’s Dakar‑winning HiLux.

When asked about whether they considered the six-cylinder for the championship, Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, claimed it was debated for “about three minutes” before adding, “actually it was probably about one [minute].”

Needless to say, it doesn’t sound like he regrets the decision, either, stating, “We knew the 2UR-GSE would sound great, but hearing it at full noise? Absolutely spine-tingling.”

The first build is nearing completion and is expected to be prepped for track testing by late August, followed by an official unveiling at a Sydney launch event on September 1.

It will then participate in the Repco Bathurst 1000 in October, where there will also be another on display. For the 2026 season, Walkinshaw Andretti and Brad Jones Racing will be using six of these awesome V8 Supras for the Supercars Championship.

If only they were bringing the V8 to the road cars, too.

The (somewhat) good news recently is that Toyota will finally be moving away from the controversial BMW engine for the GR Supra’s next generation in 2027.

However, it’s expected to be replaced with a Toyota-developed 2.0-liter turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder engine – not quite what most were hoping for.

Since several Lexus models already have the V8, it does provide a (slight) glimmer of hope. Maybe one day?

For now, we’ll have to stick with the MKIV’s 2JZ-GTE for the “real-deal” Supra. However, given the rate at which their prices are increasing, it’ll probably soon be cheaper to buy and convert one of the V8 race cars!