Toyota and Lexus Plan TMG Performance Sub-Brand
Toyota Motorsport GmbH aims to expand beyond racing by developing a TMG-branded performance line for both Toyota and Lexus, targeting rivals like AMG and M.
Toyota is preparing to launch a TMG performance sub-brand, drawing on the expertise of its Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) division. The plan includes models from both Toyota and Lexus, with the intent to challenge established German performance lines such as Mercedes-AMG and BMW M.
TMG president Yoshiaki Kinoshita confirmed that, following Toyota’s withdrawal from Formula One in 2009, the company’s motorsport arm set out to become a performance division similar to AMG. TMG retained a core team of around 200 employees after F1, focusing on high-performance projects and technology transfer from racing to road cars.
The Cologne facility, once home to Toyota’s F1 effort, has since developed customer rally cars based on the Yaris for S2000 regulations, led Toyota’s electric race car programme and built the TS030 Hybrid for Le Mans. This background in motorsport engineering underpins TMG’s ambitions for the road-car sub-brand.
Lexus LS TMG prototype hints at performance ambitions
Since 2011, TMG has been testing a Lexus LS sedan fitted with a 650hp twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The prototype also features widened tracks, sports suspension and a more aggressive bodykit. While originally conceived as a testbed, this LS could preview the type of high-performance saloon TMG intends to bring to market, rivalling the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and BMW’s M-tuned 7 Series.
TMG’s engineering approach extends beyond straight-line speed, with chassis and suspension upgrades developed in-house. The company’s motorsport heritage is expected to influence the driving dynamics of any production models bearing the TMG badge.
Broader TMG plans and context
The TMG sub-brand is intended to serve both Toyota and Lexus, offering performance variants that sit above existing F and F Sport lines. The move follows a broader trend among major carmakers to create dedicated performance divisions, as seen with AMG, BMW M and Audi’s RS line. TMG’s dual focus on motorsport and road cars is aimed at raising the profile of Toyota and Lexus among enthusiasts and in premium segments.
No official launch date for the first TMG-badged production model has been announced. The company has signalled that further details could be revealed at upcoming European motor shows, with the Essen Motor Show mentioned as a likely venue for the Lexus LS concept’s public debut.
TMG’s position in the performance market
By leveraging its racing experience and technical resources, TMG aims to give Toyota and Lexus a credible alternative to established German sports sub-brands. The success of this strategy will depend on how well TMG can translate motorsport technology and know-how into road cars that appeal to buyers seeking both performance and exclusivity.
For more on how sports sub-brands are shaping the market, seeGerman sports sub-brands push technology race among rivals.
