Toyota’s chief engineer says a full GR RAV4 is technically possible today. The block isn’t engineering, it’s whether management hears enough demand. A 2.4-liter turbo from the Tacoma and Lexus RX could be the answer. The sixth-generation RAV4 already has its hottest version ever in the GR Sport, but Toyota’s chief engineer for the SUV is leaving the door open for something even spicier. Whether it walks through depends entirely on whether enough people raise their hands. The GR Sport’s plug-in hybrid setup pairs a 2.5-liter four with dual electric motors for a combined 324 hp in U.S. trim, which is more than a GR Corolla makes from its turbocharged three-cylinder. A different powertrain, though, could push the SUV’s performance further still. Speaking to Australia’s Drive, RAV4 chief engineer Yoshinori Futonagane said the GR Sport is “powerful enough” and “very fast” in its current form. The holdup on a proper GR variant, per Futonagane, isn’t engineering. He told the outlet the only thing standing between the current RAV4 GR Sport and a full GR is “the management’s awareness of customer demand,” not “technical limitations.” Translation: the team can build it, but the bean counters need to see a business case. Our speculative rendering of a potential Toyota GR RAV4. Futonagane also confirmed the RAV4 is compatible with a turbocharged engine, adding, “If people started making a noise and saying, ‘Yeah, we want a 2.4-litre turbo’, it might end up on the agenda.” The powertrain in question can be found under the hood of the Lexus NX, RX, Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser. In the Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance and the Toyota Crown i-Force Max Hybrid, the turbo 2.4-liter is part of a self-charging hybrid system generating a combined 366 hp (273 kW / 371 PS). More: Toyota’s Most Powerful Land Cruiser Ever Is A $112K Hybrid Americans Can’t Buy Beyond a more powerful engine, a GR RAV4 would likely pick up a more aggressive bodykit and an even sharper chassis setup, though the GR Sport already covers a lot of that ground with its lowered suspension, additional bracing, and larger alloys. Whether Gazoo Racing works its magic on the RAV4 with the help of a turbo engine remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the public has the power to push it in that direction. Toyota RAV4 GR Sport (US-spec)