- Toyota’s new GR go-kart has a compact 215cc engine.
- The kart is being launched in select locations across Japan.
- Toyota says children and adults can use the GR Kart.
Plenty of us played some sport when we were young, whether it was basketball, baseball, football, or something else. In the future, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda wants more people to take up go-karting, and to help usher in what sounds like a very exciting era for gearheads, Gazoo Racing has launched its own go-kart. Sadly, it’s not as cheap as a football jersey or a tennis racket.
Known as the GR Kart, Toyota’s newest creation has been designed to fit in popular Japanese minivans like the Toyota Noah and Voxy without requiring any disassembly, and, just like a Toyota road car, has a focus on durability, not something that can be said about most go-karts.
Read: Toyota’s GR GT Supercar Could Lose Its Roof And Revive A ’90s Name
Marketed as an entry-level racing kart, it runs on a 215cc engine with a modern diaphragm carburetor. There’s no word on how much power it offers, but we know the kart weighs in at 83 kg and includes a self-charging battery. It uses a belt-drive system with an automatic tensioner, removing the hassle of adjusting the belt, so even those who don’t know how to use a spanner should be able to own one.
Upkeep is even easier thanks to a rust-resistant stainless steel rear axle shaft and metal fuel lines. It’s not just children that can pilot the GR Kart either, as Toyota says an adjustable steering wheel and sliding pedal box allow it to accommodate people between 4’4″ (135 cm) and 6’0″ (185 cm) tall, so that a whole family could enjoy it.
Toyota also considered storage while developing the kart. Each one has an engine oil catch tank, and the fuel filler is positioned so the kart can be stored upright without draining the gas and engine oil. Even those living in small, cramped apartments may have enough space to store it.
The kart is currently available at 36 go-kart tracks across Japan, as well as at several GR Garage locations. Local pricing starts at 385,000 yen, or $2,490 at current exchange rates.
