Latest news with #GRSport
Motor Trend
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV Isn't the First Ultra-Sporty RAV4
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 lineup is wider than ever, with so-called "core" models forming the backbone of the bestselling compact SUV's family, and a new Woodland off-road trim joining an equally new GR Sport trim level on the fringes. While there are other "sport" themed RAV4s available, namely an XSE model, the zestiest of the bunch is that GR Sport. 0:00 / 0:00 It combines the new RAV4's most powerful powertrain—a 320-hp plug-in hybrid setup—with a lowered suspension, sticky summer tires, and heavily bolstered seats. Sounds wild, right? Well, it's not the first time Toyota's gotten weird with the RAV4, which has otherwise been an exemplar of the mainstream since its 1996 introduction. New Sport, Same as the Old Sport? The Sport trim level has been offered with RAV4s on and off for decades, but the GR Sport isn't the first one with huge power underhood. The last-generation RAV4's Prime (later Plug-In Hybrid) version offered up a stout 302 ponies and came only in Toyota's sportier XSE trim level. Before that, the only other RAV4 that qualified as "powerful" is the only RAV4 ever to offer V-6 power, the third-generation model sold between 2006 and 2012. It was larger than the dinkier first- and second-gen versions, so much so it even offered a (tiny) third-row seat option. But the headliner was that optional 3.5-liter V-6 that Toyota stuffed between its front wheels. While most third-gen RAV4s were sold with a 2.4-liter inline-four sending 166 hp through a four-speed automatic transmission, the optional V-6—available across the lineup, from the entry-level version with unadorned steel wheels to the Sport to the top-tier Limited variant—was where the real action was at. The 3.5-liter V-6 borrowed from the larger Avalon sedan pushed out a mighty 269 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque and enjoyed an extra forward ratio in its five-speed auto. For a time, V-6-powered RAV4s were the quickest new Toyotas you could buy; MotorTrend tested one that reached 60 mph in only 6.3 seconds. Nothing else in the compact SUV segment at the time even came close to the Toyota's muscle, which was deployed most effectively in the firmed-up, big-wheel RAV4 Sport model. Well, there was one SUV with the power to challenge the V-6 RAV4: The electric one. Yep, from 2012 to 2014, at the tail end of the RAV4's third generation and well into the fourth-gen RAV4's tenure, Toyota sold an EV version based on the 2006–2012 RAV4. Believe it or not, but the third-generation RAV4 was actually not the first RAV4 to offer an all-electric variant (there was a second-generation spin-off first), and the 2012 version came loaded with an early Tesla powertrain (!) and a 42-kWh battery good for a mere 100 miles of driving range. Power output from the single motor (derived from one in the Model S but significantly detuned) stood at 154 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, routed to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. This was good for a seven-second 0–60-mph time, according to Toyota, when the RAV4 EV was placed in its Sport drive mode. (The regular setting lengthened acceleration time to 8.6 seconds.) These were only offered in certain states, and can be picked out by their lack of an external spare tire, body-color grille delete panel (with goofy large "EV" lettering beneath the Toyota lettering), blue-tinged badges, and unique headlight internals. Actually, Sort Of! In a way, the 320-hp plug-in hybrid RAV4 GR Sport is an amalgamation of the third-generation RAV4's most powerful powertrain options. Today, four-cylinder engines have largely supplanted six-cylinder options in the compact and midsize vehicle segments, so the GR Sport PHEV's system being anchored by a heavily electrified four-cylinder engine not only follows that trend, but its e-motor support recalls the oddball Tesla-powered RAV4, as well. Like other plug-in-hybrid 2026 RAV4s, the GR Sport's system is 18-hp more powerful than the last-generation RAV4 PHEV. It combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a planetary-type continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to power the front axle, along with a third electric motor that lives on the rear axle and spins the rear tires for on-demand all-wheel drive. The onboard battery can be charged at up to 11 kW on an AC home charger, but strangely, the GR Sport does not offer the same CCS-style DC fast-charging port as the lesser RAV4 XSE and Woodland PHEV trim levels. So, while the GR Sport is likely to be among the quicker RAV4s on sale later this year, that'll only apply to its straight-line speed—not its on-the-go charging speeds. Where the 2006–2012 RAV4 Sport featured cool 18-inch wheels and meaty, relatively low-profiled (for the time) all-season tires along with a firmed-up suspension and blacked-out trim, the 2026 RAV4 GR Sport goes ham sandwich on apparent track-readiness. It wears Dunlop Sportmaxx summer tires wrapped around 20-inch wheels that fill more of the fenders—their offset is wider than regular RAV4 wheels—and beefy brakes with red-painted calipers. The GR Sport's face is entirely different from the headlights down relative to other 2026 RAV4s, with a gaping lower intake and huge vents at each front corner. Out back, a wild spoiler sprouts from the top of the tailgate, and the lower bumper incorporates as much black trim as the nose. Inside there is a black-and-red color scheme, with red contrast stitching, sporty aluminum pedals, and heavily bolstered front seats not shared with other RAV4s. Will this GR Sport be the quickest factory RAV4 ever? Last year's RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid was capable of a relatively quick 5.5-second zero-to-60-mph time. With the GR Sport's stickier tires, hotter chassis setup, and the same 18-hp bump shared by other plug-in-hybrid 2026 RAV4s, we anticipate it will be. But just remember—it wouldn't be the first time the RAV4 delivered unexpected power and performance, even if we won't ever see a V-6 (or a Tesla-sourced motor) under the hood again.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Toyota RAV4: boxy looks, tech upgrade and PHEV-only in UK
Toyota has lifted the covers off the sixth-generation RAV4, with the family SUV bringing a striking new look and a generational upgrade in on-board tech. The car's dramatic styling is said to reference the off-road credentials of earlier RAV4s, with a boxier – almost Land Cruiser-like – silhouette and chunkier wheel arches. The new hammerhead lights front and rear bring its looks into line with those of the latest Prius and C-HR. Inside, the RAV4 gets a new 12.9in infotainment touchscreen that is the first to run on Toyota's new Arene operating system. Like Google's Android or Apple's iOS, it is a standard platform that will be rolled out across all future Toyotas, to enable quicker and easier development of new features. This, Toyota said, will allow it to develop new and more powerful safety and entertainment systems and introduce new functions through over-the-air updates rather than requiring prospective buyers to wait for a new model generation. At the RAV4's launch, for example, the Arene platform will arrive with new safety features, such as a rear-approach monitor devised to help drivers merge onto motorways. In the longer term, the brand has previously mooted functionality such as downloadable performance packs that replicate the dynamics of different Toyotas: drivers could, for example, choose a GR86-inspired chassis set-up for a spirited drive, before switching to more Lexus-like damping for the journey home. The new RAV4 will be offered exclusively with plug-in hybrid powertrains in the UK. Exact specifications have yet to be confirmed, but in Europe there will be a choice of 264bhp front-wheel-drive and 300bhp four-wheel-drive powertrains. The most powerful PHEV is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in 5.8sec, and it can drive under electric power alone for up to 62 miles. Its 22.7kWh battery can be topped up at up to 50kW on a DC connection, taking 30 minutes to go from 10-80%, or at 11kW on AC. In Europe there will also be a choice of 181bhp and 188bhp regular hybrids, with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive respectively. Also on offer will be a GR Sport variant with a focus on handling and featuring lightweight 20in alloy wheels, a 20mm-wider track, different dampers and stiffer springs. Inside, the GR Sport will get bucket-like sports seats, aluminium pedals and an abundance of GR badging. Pricing has yet to be confirmed but is expected to represent a small step up from the current RAV4 PHEV's starting price of £44,120. Deliveries are set to begin next spring, but an exact date has yet to be fixed. ]]>
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota Says Its New GR Sport Models Will Be More Than a 'Sticker Package'
Toyota is planning more GR Sport models for the U.S. market. The is the first GR Sport trim that will be sold here, and it's based on the 320-hp plug-in hybrid version. We suspect the Camry and Prius could be good candidates for the GR Sport treatment. The arrival of the new 2026 Toyota RAV4 marks the first time Toyota is using the GR Sport designation in the United States—but it won't be the last. At the debut of the new RAV4, we talked to Cooper Ericksen, Toyota's senior vice president of product, about the future of the GR Sport nameplate, and he assured us that more GR Sport models are coming to our market in the near future. First and foremost, Ericksen was quick to point out that this sporty trim is not on the level of full-blown GR models such as the GR Corolla hot hatch. "It has true GR suspension tuning and handling and styling, but the powertrain is [the same as] the most powerful powertrain for that vehicle," Ericksen said. In the RAV4's case, the GR Sport uses the 320-hp plug-in hybrid setup. Ericksen emphasized that for a Toyota vehicle to warrant the GR Sport treatment, it needs to have enough power to live up to the name. "If we don't have enough engine performance, the last thing we want to do is dilute the GR name and make it into a sticker package," Ericksen said. "We will probably have a few of them in the lineup. It won't be a lot." This got us thinking about which models could be up next in the GR Sport pipeline. Globally, Toyota sells GR Sport versions of numerous vehicles, including the Corolla Cross and the Hilux pickup. But these variants mostly focus on appearance upgrades, meaning they don't necessarily fit Ericksen's vision for U.S.-bound GR Sport models. Instead, we think that the Camry family sedan and Prius hybrid hatchback are the most likely candidates among Toyota's current U.S. lineup. Ericksen even mentioned the previous-generation Camry TRD as a successful example of a performance version of the mid-size sedan while discussing the GR Sport models. The current Camry Hybrid only makes up to 232 hp, which Ericksen suggested wouldn't be enough power to justify a GR Sport derivative, but there have been rumors of a more powerful plug-in hybrid Camry for some time now, which could warrant the badge. Toyota has previously shown a GR-modified concept version of the Prius at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans race. A potential Prius GR Sport likely wouldn't be quite as extreme-looking as this one-off, which had a lowered suspension, an aggressive stance with wide tires, and a wing, but it seems that Toyota is open to the idea. Like in the RAV4, any potential GR Sport version would likely use the Prius' more powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain option, which produces 220 hp and gets the Prius PHEV to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds in our testing. And then, of course, there are the numerous vehicles with the optional Hybrid Max powertrain. While neither the family-oriented Grand Highlander three-row SUV nor the luxurious Crown sedan is overly sporting, they do both offer upwards of 360 horsepower, which strikes us as enough to go along with the GR Sport treatment. We look forward to seeing where Toyota goes with this new trim line as the GR family continues to expand. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Car and Driver
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Toyota Plans More GR Sport Models, but Which Cars Could They Be?
Toyota is planning more GR Sport models for the U.S. market. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is the first GR Sport trim that will be sold here, and it's based on the 320-hp plug-in hybrid version. We suspect the Camry and Prius could be good candidates for the GR Sport treatment. The arrival of the new 2026 Toyota RAV4 marks the first time Toyota is using the GR Sport designation in the United States—but it won't be the last. At the debut of the new RAV4, we talked to Cooper Ericksen, Toyota's senior vice president of product, about the future of the GR Sport nameplate, and he assured us that more GR Sport models are coming to our market in the near future. First and foremost, Ericksen was quick to point out that this sporty trim is not on the level of full-blown GR models such as the GR Corolla hot hatch. "It has true GR suspension tuning and handling and styling, but the powertrain is [the same as] the most powerful powertrain for that vehicle," Ericksen said. In the RAV4's case, the GR Sport uses the 320-hp plug-in hybrid setup. Ericksen emphasized that for a Toyota vehicle to warrant the GR Sport treatment, it needs to have enough power to live up to the name. "If we don't have enough engine performance, the last thing we want to do is dilute the GR name and make it into a sticker package," Ericksen said. "We will probably have a few of them in the lineup. It won't be a lot." This got us thinking about which models could be up next in the GR Sport pipeline. Globally, Toyota sells GR Sport versions of numerous vehicles, including the Corolla Cross and the Hilux pickup. But these variants mostly focus on appearance upgrades, meaning they don't necessarily fit Ericksen's vision for U.S.-bound GR Sport models. Instead, we think that the Camry family sedan and Prius hybrid hatchback are the most likely candidates among Toyota's current U.S. lineup. Ericksen even mentioned the previous-generation Camry TRD as a successful example of a performance version of the mid-size sedan while discussing the GR Sport models. The current Camry Hybrid only makes up to 232 hp, which Ericksen suggested wouldn't be enough power to justify a GR Sport derivative, but there have been rumors of a more powerful plug-in hybrid Camry for some time now, which could warrant the badge. James Lipman | Car and Driver Toyota Camry TRD Toyota has previously shown a GR-modified concept version of the Prius at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans race. A potential Prius GR Sport likely wouldn't be quite as extreme-looking as this one-off, which had a lowered suspension, an aggressive stance with wide tires, and a wing, but it seems that Toyota is open to the idea. Like in the RAV4, any potential GR Sport version would likely use the Prius' more powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain option, which produces 220 hp and gets the Prius PHEV to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds in our testing. Toyota And then, of course, there are the numerous vehicles with the optional Hybrid Max powertrain. While neither the family-oriented Grand Highlander three-row SUV nor the luxurious Crown sedan is overly sporting, they do both offer upwards of 360 horsepower, which strikes us as enough to go along with the GR Sport treatment. We look forward to seeing where Toyota goes with this new trim line as the GR family continues to expand. Joey Capparella Deputy Editor, Rankings Content Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City. Read full bio
Edmunds
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edmunds
Here's Why the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid Has Two Different Charging Ports
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is all-new and hybrid only, including a plug-in hybrid option. Four versions of the RAV4 will be offered with the updated PHEV system: SE, XSE, Woodland and GR Sport. But between those four trims are, weirdly, two different ways to charge. The GR Sport and SE models both come with the Level 2 J1772 charging port and can juice up their battery at 11 kW (more than the 6.6 kW of the previous RAV4 PHEV). If you've owned a plug-in hybrid before, you'll be familiar with this five-pin charge port. It's slower than DC fast charging, but it's the one you'll find in homes and apartment complexes across the country. Level 2 is the most common way plug-in hybrids charge up, their smaller batteries not necessarily needing the extra juice provided by the ability to charge at higher rates. However, Toyota didn't think one way to charge was enough, so the Woodland and XSE models have a DC fast-charging port. Toyota says this will allow the RAV4 to charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes.
