The automotive industry has made massive leaps since the 1894 Benz Velo became the first production car with a recorded speed, topping at 12mph. Today, the fastest cars can hit over 250mph effortlessly, and 300mph is no longer an unachievable dream. But not every manufacturer is in the race for the fastest records. Some like Toyota just want to produce the fastest-selling cars and have built a reputation for safe, stylish, and reliable cars that set the standards for long-term resale value and durability. This is the primary source of their success.
Still, the Japanese automaker isn't foreign to the concept of high performance and has churned out some banging sports cars. Take, for instance, the 1967 Toyota 2000GT, one of the most desirable classic sports cars, and is evidence that the guys in Japan are more than capable of pulling off an exotic job as good as the Italians. Today, the Gazoo Racing division is tasked with creating the company's current performance sports cars. Since speed is synonymous with sports cars, here are the ten fastest sports cars Toyota has ever made.
10 Toyota 86 – 140Mph
With a top speed of 140mph off the production line, the Toyota 86 is pretty fast. Under the hood is a 2-liter boxer-four engine producing 205hp and 156lb-ft of torque. These figures aren't much on paper and are a big knockdown, but the car doesn't feel underpowered, thanks to its weight.
The 86 is essentially a Subaru BRZ with Toyota badging, and they are both fun and a joy to thread along winding back roads. From 2022, the Toyota 86 is under Gazoo Racing is track tested and comes with a bigger engine in a GR 86 guise, making 232hp and 184lb-ft of torque.
9 Toyota Corolla 1.8 T Sport – 140Mph
In 2002, Toyota set out to prove they could produce a car that matched Volkswagen's build quality. The result was the Corolla 1.8 T Sport, a front-wheel-drive compact hot hatch making 189hp from a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine. It is capable of a maximum speed of 140mph.
The car was built for four years and received a facelift in 2004. Toyota also made a 250-unit limited edition dubbed the T Sport Compressor, which came with a supercharger and increased power, offering a relatively exclusive hot hatchback with smooth performance and great handling.
8 Toyota GR Yaris – 143Mph
The GR Yaris is arguably the best modern homologation special car, and it is a shame it is not available in the States. The unassuming little car features a tiny but punchy and lively engine. It is already dominating rallying, having won Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, a WRC constructors' title barely two years in its existence.
257hp isn't much when some hot hatch rivals like the Ford Focus RS make 350 horsepower. But with four-wheel drive and a lightweight package, the GR Yaris is speedy and can hit a 143mph top speed. Not bad for a car that can effortlessly rip through rough roads.
7 Toyota MR2 Turbo - 150Mph
Most of the surviving MR2 cars are heavily modified, and if you can find a clean one, you get a truly underrated giant killer. They are also some of the most affordable mid-engined cars you can buy. The MR2 Turbo boasted 200 hp and could sprint to 60mph in 6.2 seconds.
Although Toyota withdrew the MR2 Turbo from the Firestone Firehawk series, they made significant improvements to the street car. The Turbo is the fastest version of the MR2 and can hit speeds up to 150mph.
6 Toyota Celica GT4 – 153Mph
The Celica is among the most exciting and popular models ever made by Toyota. When first released, it was a great, cheaper, lighter alternative to the Mustang. The GT4 sits at the peak of more than three decades of production. It was powered by a 2-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine making 200hp.
It became prominent in the 1995 WRC Rally series, where they dominated after employing an ingenious design to skirt restrictions. With a top speed of 153mph, the Celica GT4 remains one of the fastest cars from Toyota.
5 Toyota Supra Mk IV Twin-Turbo – 155Mph
After five generations, it is hard to cherry-pick the best Toyota Supra model. The fourth-generation has a big shout for the best of the older models. Back then, Japanese automakers were taxed according to displacement, and Toyota used a twin sequential turbo setup on the inline-six 2JZ GTE engine, which resulted in one of the most revered sports cars ever.
The 2JZ GTE is popular with tuners, and some have been tuned to draw 800hp with stock internal components. But in complete stock form, the car can reach a top speed of 155mph.
4 Toyota GR Supra – 155Mph
The old Supra and its 2JZ-GTE engines saw their popularity balloon after it was discontinued in 2002, in its fourth generation. In 2019, Toyota brought back the Supra with two BMW-sourced engines, a 2-liter I4 and a bigger 3-liter I6 that makes 335hp.
Purists might have an issue with the new car thanks to the BMW roots and will consider the old Supras the more iconic choices. But they won't frown much while pushing it down the straight at a 155mph top speed.
3 Lexus LC 500 – 168Mph
The Lexus LC500 is a hidden sports car gem offering top-tier luxury, class reading reliability, and motorsport heritage. Under the hood is a roaring 5-liter V8 engine shared with the RC-F and is the most powerful Lexus V8 ever. It is a head-turning car that is also great fun to drive.
While it isn't overwhelmingly quick, it is quick enough to be far more exciting around corners. That doesn't mean it is sluggish down the straight because it can reach a top speed of 168mph.
2 Lexus LFA – 202Mph
Toyota, too, has a supercar of their own in the form of the Lexus LFA built from carbon fiber and featuring a long list of hi-tech goodies. Under the hood is a high revving 4.8-liter V10 engine, making an impressive 553hp and 354lb-ft of torque. That is staggering performance, but it is nothing short of what you'd expect from a car that costs twice the Mercedes SLS.
To up the performance, Lexus offered the car in a Nürburgring pack, which lowered and stiffened the suspension for better handling on track. But even in standard form, it was quite speedy, sprinting from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and hitting a top speed of 202mph.
1 Toyota GT-One – 236Mph
Toyota has produced some wild motorsport cars in an attempt to find loopholes around regulations. In 1998, they built the GT-One to compete in the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans. FIA rules required them to develop a road-legal car with minimal differences from the racing version. Today, it is one of the most iconic prototype homologation cars.
The GT-One was powered by an incredibly powerful 3.6-liter twin-turbo V8, making over 600 ponies in the race trim and down to 550hp in the road car. With just 2,425 pounds, it can hit 236mph and sprint to 60mph in just 3.2 seconds.