It’s normal in the automotive industry for brands to offer certain models for certain markets. For example, the famous Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution wasn’t offered for sale when new in the United States until 2003, which, by that time, meant the Lancer Evo was already in its eighth iteration. There are numerous others, as well, with models such as the Mitsubishi Proudia, Toyota Chaser, and Vauxhall VXR coming to mind, just to name a few.
As many of you already know, the US also has a strict vehicle import law mandating that cars must be at least 25 years of age in order to be lawfully imported. There are a few exceptions, namely due to the Show and Display law. Our sporty subject model today still needs quite a few years under its belt before it can be brought to the US under the 25-Year Rule, but it’s worth the wait. That’s because it’s a unique model, in that it sports a rear-wheel drive drivetrain, something we haven’t seen from a Toyota sedan in the States since 1992, in the Lexus-preceding Cressida model.
Some More Forbidden Fruit
Toyota Mark X exteriorToyota
Quick Facts About The Toyota Mark X GRMN
- Introduced in 2015
- Built on Toyota’s N Platform
- Features a 3.5-liter V6
- Comes standard with rear-wheel drive
- Axed following the 2019 model year
The Mark X: The Beginnings
The early 2000s marked a time of change for Toyota, especially within its home market of Japan. The automotive industry was changing, pivoting away from the boxy designs of the 1980s and 1990s, along with demanding more and more tech-heavy cabins. Toyota being Toyota, it rose to the challenge well, and began to make changes to its automobile lineup, always chasing whatever the new-age consumer liked, and wanted, most out of their cars.
By the early 2000s, Toyota was already well-adapted to the new automotive landscape. However, there were a couple of slow-sellers still on the roster that needed to be addressed. For example, the long-running Mark II nameplate, which had been in continuous production since 1968, needed to be phased out. In addition, Toyota needed to get rid of the short-lived, slow-selling, inline-six-powered Verossa sedan, and it was also interested in replacing the discontinued Chaser and Cresta sedans.
Toyota Cresta front quarterToyota
So, in order to kill two – or rather four – birds with one stone, Toyota hatched a plan. It was decided that the automaker would produce a single sedan that could replace the Verossa, Cresta, Chaser, and Mark II all at once without skipping a beat. That meant the model had to be powered by something with six cylinders (Verossa), have a good bit of luxury (Cresta), be sporty enough to figure its way around a corner (Chaser), and carry on the legacy of a well-known and respected nameplate (Mark II). On top of it all, it needed to be rear-wheel drive.
The resulting model was released in 2006, although it wouldn’t be until 2015 that the world (sans the US) would finally see a hardcore, performance version of the rear-wheel drive Mark X: the GRMN.
Enter The Mark X GRMN
First Iteration (2015)
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMNToyota
Following a conceptual reveal, the 2015 Toyota Mark X GRMN debuted as a rear-drive, full-size bruiser in late 2014. At the time, Toyota had launched its GRMN — short for “Gazoo Racing, tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring” — lineup in 2009, just five years prior. The Mark X GRMN was only the third entry in the high-performance lineup, following the iQ and the Vitz Turbo versions, respectively. The Mark X variant sported numerous upgrades to both its appearance and mechanical make-up.
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMNToyota
Under the hood, the GRMN team supplied the hot Mark X with a suped-up version of Toyota’s 3.5-liter 2GR-FSE V6 consisting of an extensively revised state of tune. Its sole transmission option is a six-speed manual, and its rear end is gifted a Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD). GRMN’s team made merry with its suspension, tightening things up with stiffer springs and shocks, along with an additional 252 spot welds added to its frame for more rigidity. An electric power steering system complete with, reportedly, a much more responsive feel is present, as well.
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMNCollecting Cars
As far as exterior and interior upgrades go, the Mark X GRMN sports several. Its front and rear fascias and side profile were revamped to appear much more sporty, and it was given a special set of blacked-out wheels. Its taillights received a similar black-out treatment, as well. Its roof was made from carbon fiber in order to both lower its overall curb weight, and lower its center of gravity. Inside, the seats are trimmed with ultrasuede material, and red contrast stitching is peppered throughout.
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMNCollecting Cars
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMN Specs
Engine
3.5L 2GR-FSE NA V6
Horsepower
316 hp
Torque
280 lb-ft
0-60 MPH Time
4.8 seconds
Top Speed
112 mph (limited)
Curb Weight
3,417 lbs
*Specs courtesy of Toyota
Second Iteration (2019)
2019 Toyota Mark X GRMN White Rear AngleToyota
The Mark X GRMN’s first version was produced for 2015 only, and roughly 100 units were produced. In 2019, though, Toyota decided to give the Mark X GRMN one last hurrah with a 350-unit production run. 2019 also marked the end of the Mark X’s production run as a whole, no doubt prompting Toyota to feel even more obligated to send off the model in a flurry of fireworks. This second iteration didn’t change all too much on the outside, save for a slightly revised front and rear fascia. Under the skin, things remained virtually identical, save for it losing three horsepower, dropping its total power output to 313 ponies.
You May Want It, But You Can’t Have It
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMNCollecting Cars
Unfortunately, in order to import your own Toyota Mark X GRMN, you’ll have to wait at least another 10 years for it to be legal, as the oldest versions were produced in late 2014. However, should you have the patience, and if current worldwide pricing holds up to where it is today, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get one. According to auction sites such as Collecting Cars, a typical Mark X GRMN sells for roughly $25,000 when all is said and done.
2015 Toyota Mark X GRMNCollecting Cars
Of course, there will also be import fees and taxes that you’d need to factor in, which would typically add another $2,000 — $3,000 or so to the final price. Of course, this is assuming you can actually find one for sale, as only 450 were built across its two production runs. But, once you’ve completed the long wait and paid the import man his due, you’ll have yourself a unique piece of Toyota history, not to mention one of the only rear-wheel drive, performance Toyota sedans in the US. That alone is worth something.
How Should You Occupy Your Time For An Entire Decade?
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD in Supersonic RedToyota
However, until those 10 years have elapsed, you’ll have plenty of time to save up for one. In the meantime, you can always get yourself into something like the Toyota Avalon TRD, one of the rarer Toyota performance birds to hit US shores. Its final model year was 2022, so you can still find ones for sale that can be certified by Toyota. If you go and take a quick look around the used market, it seems an average-conditioned 2022 Avalon TRD will set you back about $30,000, not bad considering it’s a three-year-old, certifiable, well-equipped flagship sedan.
Sources: Toyota, Global.Toyota, Classic.com
