Toyota chairman gives surprise shout-out to USA-made Nissan Murano at Fuji 24 Hours

At the recently concluded Fuji 24 Hours Race at Fuji Speedway, an unexpected moment away from the track drew as much attention as the on-track action itself.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, better known in motorsport circles as “Morizo,” was seen giving a notably enthusiastic shout-out, not to a Toyota model, but to an SUV from a rival brand.

The SUV in question is the all-new fourth-generation Nissan Murano, a North America-built model that was introduced to the Japanese market in March. It was displayed at the event alongside models from Toyota and Honda as part of the exhibition lineup.

Not sure what it was, but something about the Murano must have caught Toyoda’s attention. In a short clip, posted on Toyota's official X account, Toyoda appears in a racing suit standing in front of the Murano while waving a pair of Nissan/NISMO flags. He highlights that the model is produced in the United States and expresses hope that Japanese customers will have the opportunity to experience it.

At one point, he also calls Nissan staff over and jokingly instructs them to “surround it with Nissan cars,” adding a playful moment to what is usually a formal setting when corporate big shots are involved.

米国の工場で作られた
新型・日産ムラーノを
うちの会長の豊田章男
（富士24時間レース練習走行後）が
見つけた時の動画です

日産の皆さま
撮影させていただき
ありがとうございました！#豊田章男 #モリゾウ pic.twitter.com/Hl9Pkzlc4R

— トヨタ自動車株式会社 (@TOYOTA_PR) June 5, 2026

Beyond the lighthearted moment, Toyota’s involvement in the 2026 Fuji 24 Hours included an entry in the ST-Q category with the #32 TGRR GR Corolla H2 Concept, which runs on liquid hydrogen and is the world’s first race car equipped with a superconducting liquid hydrogen pump to compete in a race.

The prototype ran with the latest development systems, including a superconducting liquid hydrogen pump and a Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT), and went on to secure the ST-Q class win for prototype entries.