Remember when Toyota built sedans that were pure driver’s cars—rear-wheel drive, manual, and powered by a howling V6? Well, one of those legends existed quietly in Japan, and Americans never got a shot at it. Meet the Toyota Mark X GRMN—a car that checks every enthusiast box but was cruelly kept out of U.S. showrooms.
Even as Toyota’s lineup within the States has been heavy on hybrids and SUVs, Japan become getting some thing absolutely exclusive: a guide, rear-force sports sedan built via Toyota’s performance arm, Gazoo Racing, long before the GR Supra or GR Corolla came to existence.
What Made the Toyota Mark X GRMN So Special
The Mark X GRMN wasn’t just another sporty trim—it was a full-blown performance project, built for drivers who missed the raw fun of cars like the old Lexus IS 300 or even the Cressida.
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Here’s the quick rundown:
- Released: 2015 (with a final 2019 model)
- Engine: 3.5-liter evidently aspirated V6 (2GR-FSE)
- Energy: as much as 316 hp and 280 lb-feet of torque
- Transmission: 6-pace manual simplest
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel force
- Weight: just 3,400 lbs
Under the hood, Toyota’s GR engineers tuned that 3.5-liter V6 to perfection, pairing it with a Torsen limited-slip differential, tightened suspension, and 252 extra spot welds for added chassis rigidity. The result? A sedan that could dance around corners with the balance of a sports coupe—something Toyota fans in the U.S. have been begging for years.
The GRMN Legacy: Built Like a Race Car
The “GRMN” name isn’t marketing fluff—it stands for “Gazoo Racing, tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring.”
That means the same crew who tunes Toyota’s GT3 cars and hot hatches had a hand in this sedan.
Besides its mechanical upgrades, the Mark X GRMN had plenty of track-inspired details:
- A carbon fiber roof to drop the center of gravity
- Ultrasuede sport seats with red stitching
- Black-out taillights and aggressive aero updates
- Quick, precise steering for maximum driver feedback
Even by today’s standards, the Mark X GRMN’s 4.8-second 0–60 mph time is impressive for a naturally aspirated V6 with no turbo or hybrid assist.
Why the U.S. Never Got It
So why didn’t Toyota bring this beast to America?
Blame market priorities and emissions rules. In the 2010s, sedans were fading in the U.S., and Toyota focused on efficiency and SUVs. The Mark X GRMN was Japan’s reward for still loving old-school performance.
And thanks to America’s 25-year import law, it’s still illegal to import—at least until 2040 for the 2015 version.
What It Costs (And Why You Might Still Want One)
Notwithstanding its rarity, the Mark X GRMN isn’t absurdly pricey remote places. On japanese auction sites and structures like amassing motors, easy examples promote for around $25,000. Add every other $2,000–$3,000 for import expenses once it’s prison, and you may very own considered one of Toyota’s closing authentic RWD guide sedans for less than the charge of a new Camry.
Handiest 450 were ever made—so in case you plan to seize one while the 25-year rule lifts, start hunting now.
What to Drive While You Wait
If the idea of an RWD, performance-focused Toyota sedan makes your heart race, the Avalon TRD is your best modern alternative.
It’s not a guide and not RWD, however, it does pack a 301-hp V6, a sport-tuned suspension, and that uncommon “Toyota with attitude” feel.
Used 2022 Avalon TRDs hover round $30,000, and since it’s the last of its kind, it’s quietly becoming a destiny collectible.
Final Thoughts
The Toyota Mark X GRMN is one of those forbidden end result that makes enthusiasts sigh whenever they see one online.
It represents a time while Toyota built motors purely for drivers—not for sales charts or gas economic system tests.
So at the same time as americans never got to experience it whilst new, the day you could legally import one may simply be the fine day of your automobile life.
Till then, it’s worth remembering that Toyota as soon as constructed a sedan so properly, it made us desire we lived in Japan.
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