Toyota Reveals New Matte Black Colors for 2024

Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed a new color scheme that will adorn its two GR010 Hybrids for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.

The Japanese marque has done away with the white-and-red livery it has used since 2016 in favor of a new matte black look, which it revealed on Tuesday in a special announcement in Tokyo.

Toyota will also use the new livery on its factory cars in the World Rally Championship.

Company chairman Akio Toyoda explained the change speaking on stage shortly after the reveal of the brand’s 2024 SUPER GT lineups.

“Up to now, we have been using red and white as these are the colors of the Japanese flag,” said Toyoda. “But something I’ve noticed when I have not been there in person and been watching on TV, is that there are a lot of red-and-white cars.

“Sometimes it can be hard to tell which car is which. So to make it easier to understand, we’ve changed to this coloring. We also used this coloring when we were in the development phase, especially in WRC, and many people said, ‘it looks fast’.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing president Tomoya Takahashi added: “As well as making it easier to identify our cars, we also feel that black coloring conveys that this is a prototype, and that it is always evolving.

“This new black livery will be a symbol of our desire to keep making ever better cars.”

Kamui Kobayashi, who will drive the No. 7 GR010 Hybrid in 2024 alongside his role as team principal, was also present for the event to give his thoughts on the change.

“My first impression of the new color was that it looks really fast, which makes us happy as drivers,” said Kobayashi. “Up to now, there have been no black cars from Japan competing on the world stage, so it feels really fresh as well.”