From innovative firsts to groundbreaking racing tech, there is more to Toyota's sports cars than you may realize.

Vying for the top spot of the world's largest carmakers, Toyota sold an incredible 10.5 million cars in 2021. Among those, are hatches, hybrids, and a handy number of sports cars.

Taking a look back at where Toyota comes from. Founded in 1937 to where it stands today, sports cars are a relatively late addition to the company. Unveiled in 1965 and sold through a small chain of stores, the Sports 800 was the first tentative step into the world of speed. Not the kind of speed machines we have come to expect from Toyota, but more of a Kei Car. Yet, from this little roadster onwards Toyota has rolled out some of the best sports cars. Icons, including the Supra in its various models, along with the MR2 have wowed gearheads the world over.

A familiar sight on public roads? But how many gearheads know what lies behind the brand's model line-up? Snippets of information that most gearheads overlook. From innovative firsts to groundbreaking racing and sports car tech, there is more to Toyota than you realize.

Japan's first, and best attempt at taking the US sports market, the 2000 GT was an instant success. It didn't matter production stopped at 351 cars. The arrival of Toyota's supercar was an omen of things to come. Under the hood, a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated in-line six put down 148 hp.

But what most gearheads do not realize is Toyota worked on the 2000 GT project alongside Yamaha. In fact, without Yamaha, the 2000 GT might never have left the design stage. From the engine, chassis, and body, Yamaha refined the car's design. To cap things off, Yamaha's Shizuoka plant handled production.

Predating the 2000GT, Toyota's other 60s-era sports car is a rarer sight. An evolution of the Publica launched in 1965 within Toyota's boutique retail outlets. Initially, the Sports 800 featured a sliding canopy for access, later introducing the world's first Targa roof design.

Styling cues hint at a scaled-down 2000 GT with the two sharing some styling elements. But, smaller of scale brought benefits of agility and frugality. Under the hood of the sports 800 lived a 790cc 2-cylinder motor cranking out 40 hp. Around town, Toyota claimed 45 mph was possible, with track-based fun doubling that figure.

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Think Le Man's 24-hour winners, and most outside of Ford's GT40 dominance are European entrants. Winning once would be a resounding success for any carmaker. But five straight wins take something special. From 2018 to 2022, the Toyota GR claimed the honors, first with the TS050 shown here, followed up by the GR010.

Endurance racing isn't just about how fast or long you can go, but also efficiency. Requiring fewer fuel stops, the TS050 used a 2.4-liter V6 backed by an 8-megajoules hybrid system rated at 1000 hp.

Continuing the racing theme. Toyota's F1 debut in 2002 came at a time of non-turbo high-revving engines. While the team had a huge budget success eluded Toyota until its withdrawal in 2009.

Unlike other manufacturers, Toyota skipped the "Q" or qualifying engine step favoring durability. By end of 2005 and the V10 era, the Japanese carmaker's RVX-V10 was among the most powerful cranking out 940+ hp. For the following season, engine regulations shrank to 2.4-liter V8s ending the V10 era.

Two turbos are better than one right? In the Supra pairing a twin-turbo set-up with a 2JZ motor was a dream combination. Not only was the Supra affordable, but it was supercar fast with tons of tuning potential in reserve.

At its launch, Toyota claimed a top speed of 155 mph thanks to a unique turbocharger installation. While other cars had followed a similar path to performance, few used a sequential set-up. At low speeds, the first turbo spun up reducing lag, joined by a second at higher speeds for more boost. It wasn't a new idea, but Toyota did it first in a mass-produced car.

Japan's first mid-engined sports car? The Toyota MR2 started life as a small two-seater commuter car. Thankfully, Toyota's unveiling deemed the MR2 was too hardcore forcing a rethink.

Early misdirections aside, the MR2 was a huge hit that would spawn two successors. Yet, as sporty as the AW11 MR2 was, beneath the skin it was nothing more than a reworked Corolla chassis and engine. This proves, in the right order, no matter how basic a car is, great things can happen.

Related: 10 Awesome Japanese Sports Cars That Are Surprisingly Cheap To Own And Maintain

Representing the sweet spot between high-tech and performance, the LFA is a one-of-a-kind supercar. Massively complicated, late to the market, and with a high sticker price, the LFA was short-lived.

Taking pride of place in the Toyota/Lexus line-up of sports cars, the LFA packs a 4.8-liter V10 cranking out 563 hp. In use, those numbers equate to a top speed of 202 mph, passing 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. If you're a numbers geek, Lexus has another claim to fame. Revving that V10 to its ts limiter at 9500 RPM takes a mere six-tenths of a second.

The Toyota Soarer doesn't receive the attention it deserves. Launched amid a media flurry enveloping Toyota's A70, the Soarer Z20 tends to pass under the radar. But, gearheads in the know will recognize the similarities.

Under the skin, the Soarer peaked for 1988 with a turbocharged 7M-GTEU producing 240 hp. At least on paper, the two were evenly matched once the Soarer's limiter had been removed.

Nerdy gearheads will rejoice at the hidden meaning behind the Toyota GT86s name. Built in collaboration with Subaru, the GT86 is an affordable sports car with enough grunt to be fun.

But what of those numbers? A scan through Toyotas tech specs reveals the 2.0-liter boxer engine has a bore and stroke of exactly 86mm. As for the much-hyped 86mm exhaust tips we'll take that one with a pinch of salt. Most owners report a smaller diameter OEM size.

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BMW DNA extends to the Supra's engine and chassis, leaving the visuals to Toyota. Badge engineering rarely works this well. But something was amiss from the Supra J29s launch. Under the skin, the Supra is almost identical to the BMW Z4 using a turbocharged 3-liter cranking out 335 hp.

Or did it? Test reviews and owners alike felt the Supra was faster than its power figure suggested. Several dyno test sessions later, it transpired Toyota wasn't entirely honest with owners. In reality, the B58B engine puts out closer to 380 hp. Good news for fans of free performance upgrades.

Raised in a car-obsessed environment from an early age ensured a keen interest in anything car-related. first and foremost an F1 fan, but also an avid follower of other motorsports. Professional background working closely with a well established UK based Supercar manufacturer in recent years.