Toyota Supra

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Best 6-Cylinder Engines Ever Produced

In this modern automotive era, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to the wide array of supercars, hypercars and now EVs, to choose from. At this level of the game, the V12 engine is often seen as the standard bearer, while a V8 is the lowest benchmark. It’s no wonder the 6-cylinder engine often gets overlooked, despite continuing to power some of the world’s greatest sports cars and supercars. This isn’t just hyperbole. Case in point: the Porsche 911.

With the help of turbochargers, superchargers and in some cases, electric motors, 6-cylinder engines can often squeeze out just as much performance as their larger counterparts, while retaining the benefits of being more compact, lightweight and fuel-efficient. So while they aren’t typically as flashy nor headline-making as the V12s and V8s of the world, they are at the very least, an extremely versatile and dependable option to have in the engine war chest.

It’s no wonder the proliferation of the 6-cylinder engine has been democratized by auto manufacturers internationally, with the platform remaining ever-present across all continents. The Germans, Japanese and Italians are amongst those who persist with their undying trust in the 6-cylinder engine; so much so that it is still being improved and continues to power some of the best automobiles to this day.

Here’s the shortlist of 10 such engines, which we have curated:

Porsche M97.74

Appearing in the 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0, this truly special engine was the swan song for both the 997-generation (2005-2012) of Porsche 911 cars, as well as the Mezger engine design. Borrowing a number of components from the RSR race car, the 3.8L engine in the ‘regular’ 997 GT3 RS was then upgraded to a 4.0L flat-6 (hence the name) which produced 500 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, while having an astronomical 8,500 rpm redline.

So convincing was this move, even to Porsche’s own brass, that the following two generations (991 and 992) of 911 cars would continue to employ the 4.0L naturally-aspirated engine in the GT3 lineup, proving that the ‘godfather’ RS 4.0 was also well ahead of its time.

With the proliferation of PDK transmissions, amongst other safety-centric technological advancements, many consider the M97.74 and the GT RS 4.0 it powered, to be the final rendition of the purists’ GT3 RS.

BMW S54B32

Collectively, the BMW E46 M3 (2000-2006) is one of our favorite cars here at supercars.net, and this is in no small part thanks to its S54B32 inline-6 engine. The naturally-aspirated unit is as pure as it gets from the Bavarian company, with a peak 333 hp being produced at 7,900 rpm on route to its 8,000 rpm redline. Other stand-out features include individual throttle bodies and drive-by-wire operation, further accentuating the car’s inherent rawness and driving purity.

When mated to the 6-speed manual transmission, it really doesn’t get much better than this – from BMW or any other company, for that matter. If BMW ever wanted to revert back to a more minimalist philosophy, the S54B32 and E46 M3 would be writing the playbook.

Nissan RB26DETT

The 2.6L twin-turbocharged inline-6 from Nissan – the RB26DETT – has become something of a legend. It would take nothing short of the absolute best from the Japanese automaker to produce something worthy of powering a car amicably referred to as “Godzilla”, and the RB26DETT has never disappointed. While it was limited to 280 hp from the factory – thanks to the gentleman’s agreement between Japanese manufacturers to cap engine outputs at the time – the R34 Skyline GT-R was anything but docile, even when left untinkered.

The engine’s true capabilities were the worst kept secret in the industry, with a simple flash of the ECU (to effectively remove the restrictions) plus a few bolt-on performance modifications allowing the RB26DETT to produce much, much more.

Porsche MDH.NA

Suffice to say, the 991 GT2 RS is the absolute peak of 6-cylinder performance. The GT2 RS in its entirety is more closely based on a Turbo S than it is to its closest GT relative, the 911 GT3 RS. After all, at the heart of the GT2 is a revamped version of the Turbo S engine (known as MDH.NA), while the GT3 has its own unique naturally-aspirated 4.0L power plant. The 3.8L flat-6 was fitted with larger variable-geometry turbos and was given an increase in peak boost to 22.5 psi, which is 24% higher than the Turbo S.

Larger intercoolers, a water-spray system, larger exhaust manifold primaries and redesigned pistons work in synergy with the aforementioned to provide the GT2 RS with 700 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque. Porsche has long buried the traditional notion of “turbo-lag” in its cars with VarioCam Plus and the GT2 RS is no different, making peak torque from 2,250 rpm to 4,000 rpm.

Honda C30A

The original 1990 Acura NSX was fitted with a 3.0L naturally-aspirated V6 engine which produced 270 hp. At the time, that was more than sufficient to go shoulder-to-shoulder with any of its supercar contemporaries; particularly Ferrari, its target rival. What truly made the C30A – and as a whole, the NSX – so special, was that it broke the mold of what a supercar could and should ought to be: reliable and useable. Almost blasphemous thinking at the time, the idea of the “everyday supercar” was still a twinkle in the eye of exotic car auto makers.

The engine demanded very little, if anything, above the expected maintenance laundry list and associated costs of keeping a Honda Accord running. It was refined. It performed. It was comfortable. You could drive it whenever you wanted to. The NSX is widely recognized as one of the forefathers of the modern supercar, going on to inspire the likes of the McLaren F1. That puts it in pretty high regard, I’d say.

Alfa Romeo ‘Busso’ V6

There is no other power plant on this list which has been as long-serving or as versatile as the ‘Busso’ engine. Named after its chief designer, Giuseppe Busso, the foundation of this engine was its 60° V6 configuration. From there, a colorful variation of engines were built upon it, with displacements ranging 2.0L to 3.2L plus the use of turbochargers (or none at all) depending on the intended application of the automobile it was being fitted to. This meant you could see a Busso producing as little as 130 hp in a 1983 Alfa Romeo Alfa 6, and up to 247 hp in a 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.

Regardless of its specs, every Busso engine shares the same reputation for being remarkably smooth, having good low-end power delivery, and an incredibly unique engine note at higher rpms. Needless to say, the Busso would go on to be the centerpiece of the brand for a good 30+ years.

Nissan VR38DETT

While there was a general expectation that the latest iteration of the GT-R would (or should) be powered by a V8 engine prior to its official release, Nissan inevitably stuck to its guns and continued the tradition of powering its flagship car with its tried and trusted 6-cylinder unit. This time, the engine would be produced in a 60° V6 configuration to ensure that the massively sized and massively powerful engine, could fit under the front hood. In the very first R35 GT-R cars, the 3.8L twin-turbocharged V6 produced 485 hp, before being upped to 545 hp for the 2012 refresh.

Since then, the hand-crafted power plants have been continuously improved over the years, with the most powerful factory version of the car – the Nissan GT-R Nismo – producing some 600 hp. Perfectly matched with Nissan’s dual-clutch transmission and proven all-wheel drive system, the VR38DETT continues a legend while forging one of its own, all at the same time.

Jaguar JRV-6

It’s rather humorous that the JRV-6 would not have made it on this list if not for a gaff on the part of Jaguar, who had originally marketed and went as far as promising that the XJ220 would be delivered to its first customers with a V12 engine. Nevertheless, the eventually-fitted twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder unit was borrowed from a Group B Rally car – the Rover Metro 6R4. It was rightfully potent, and actually made more power than the naturally-aspirated V12 which was originally proposed.

Able to produce up to 542 hp, the XJ220 would even go on to become the fastest production car in the world at the time, topping out at a brow-raising 217 mph. While its credentials were proven in the real world, I’m sure many buyers were still a bit miffed at the fact that the final product came with half the number of cylinders they had put down their deposits down for.

Toyota 2JZ-GTE

The Toyota Supra was equipped with the ubiquitous 3.0L inline-6 2JZ engine in all its models. The most recognized version of the Supra – the Turbo – possessed a twin-turbocharged engine known as the 2JZ-GTE, which was specced with up to 326 hp. The two turbochargers operated sequentially and not in parallel. This essentially meant that one of the turbochargers was designed to provide near-maximum torque as early as 1,800 rpm, while the second turbine would be engaged in a “pre-boost” mode until around 4,000 rpm where thereafter both turbochargers would be spinning at full blast. This translated to better low-end throttle response, less ‘turbo lag’, increased boost at higher engine speeds, and a relatively linear delivery of power – all of which was difficult to achieve in unison, with the technology available at the time.

The 2JZ-GTE-equipped Turbo model was able to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and complete the standing ¼ mile in an impressive 13.1 seconds. Top speed was recorded at 155 mph.

Alfa Romeo 690T

The fact that the engine in the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is derived from the Ferrari F154 platform, automatically puts it in some highly esteemed company. After all, other variations of the F154 are used in the likes of cars such as the Maserati Quattroporte, Ferrari F8 Tributo and even the hybridized Ferrari SF90. While the F154 takes on a V8 configuration, the Alfa Romeo variant (known as the 690T) is a 2.9L twin-turbocharged V6 which produces 540 hp. Capable of 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, the 690T isn’t exactly blistering by today’s standards, but it does become an integral part of the car’s overall philosophy of balance and agility; this was probably one of the main reasons Alfa Romeo chose to go with a smaller unit rather than going the copy/paste route with the Ferrari setup.

The GTA / GTAm are about as track-ready as any production car can get when also factoring in its insanely aggressive aerodynamic and chassis upgrades.

June 6, 2021 / Comments Off

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Toyota GR Supra Jarama Racetrack Edition: European Model Limited to 90 Cars

Toyota has revealed the new Toyota GR Supra Jarama Racetrack limited to just 90 units in Europe, with 30 heading to the UK market.

The GR Supra Jarama Racetrack edition got its name from Spain’s Madrid Circuitand is powered by the same 3.0L turbocharged I6 engine found on the regular GR Supra. It’s paired to an 8-speed sports automatic transmission, the acceleration from 0-100km\h is achieved in 4.3 seconds. The output is capped at 340hp while the maximum torque is set to 500Nm and can be tapped from anywhere between between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm.

The exterior features an exclusive Horizon Blue paint, Matte Black 19 inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers.while the interior includes a carbon fiber dashboard, Toyota GR Supra logo and black Alcantara seats.

Additional performance features include adaptive suspension, active differentials, sport tuned steering wheel, Brembo sport brakes and ventilated 348mm discs on the front axle. The stability and agility of the car is further enhanced by the low centre of gravity and low weight. Altogether, the high rigidity bodywork and high aerodynamic efficiency results in a balanced sports car thanks to the short wheelbase.

Toyota GR Supra Jarama Racetrack

March 12, 2021 / Comments Off

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10 Widebody Kits for Your Toyota GR Supra (with Prices)

Supra culture is hotter than ever, with tuners around the world developing all sorts of parts from performance to aesthetics. The GR Supra shares a powertrain and other parts with the BMW G29 Z4, they even share the same assembly but as soon as they leave the doors of the Austrian factory everything changes. One is built for open top fun, the other is built to take any form of abuse from the JDM culture.

With the new GR Supra taking the market by storm, one of the most common mod by enthusiasts is a widebody kit. While the market is filled with lots of kits and stand alone parts, we decided to list down 10 popular widebody kits that you can get for your Supra. Enjoy!

1. PANDEM GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Also known as Rocket Bunny. Pandem and Rocket Bunny are both brand names owned by TRA Kyoto Japan. The V1 kits comes complete with a wing. There is also a V1.5 kit, which will be followed by a V2 and V3 as per their tradition.

PRICE: From $8,000 full kit

Rocket Bunny GR Supra. Photo by Driving Line

2. VARIS GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Here you have the option for the Varis Arising I full kit or the Varis Supreme kit.

PRICE: $17,985 for the Varis Arising I
PRICE: $25,590 for the Varis Supreme

VARIS SUPREME SUPRA danielksong on Instagram

3. HKS GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

HKS offers a variety of parts for the GR Supra. The widebody kit with a wing set is just part of the bigger catalog. You can choose performance parts from exhaust systems to intake systems and of course their popular coilover sets for all driving conditions as part of the suspension upgrade.

PRICE: from $10,000 full Kit

4. STREET HUNTER GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Street Hunter Design kit is popular in the US and seems to have a significant usage overseas too. Probably because of their pocket friendly price.

PRICE: from $7,000 full kit

5. TOM’S RACING GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier in the year. The kit is limited to 99 pieces. The company will likely have a non limited version 2.

PRICE: from $10,000 (apprx)

TOM’S RACING GR SUPRA WIDEBODY

6. KUHL RACING GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Japan racing team and performance shop is not new to the tuning industry. For the GR Supra they have a normal body kit, widebody kit and an extreme drift widebody kit. The latter is based on Masato Kawabata’s GR Supra.

PRICE: from $9,250 full kit

KUHL RACING GR SUPRA WIDEBODY

7. LIBERTY WALK GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Liberty Walk needs no introduction when it comes to widebody kits. They take extreme to a whole new level and will create a widebody kit for almost any car. The complete kit comes in two forms, one with the standard bonnet and the other with a bonnet hood.

PRICE: from $14,850 full kit

LIBERTY WALK GR SUPRA

8. JONSIBAL GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

3D artist Jonsbal has created some of the most popular widebody kits on the internet. Most of these kits are special commissions by car collectors while others are collaborations with tuning shops. The Jonsibal GR Supra stands out from the crowd, the Supra shown here was commissioned by Papadakis Racing. A 1000hp drift machine and apparently the fastest Toyota in Formula D!

Price: Upon Request

9. PRIOR DESIGN GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

This European tuner wants a share of the Supra market too. They are not new to widebody kits, having done numerous kits for German marques over the years.

PRICE: on request

10. SARD TUNING GR SUPRA WIDEBODY KIT

Japanese tuner who is selling their bodykit as a package. You get a full engine tuning and exterior modifications. The 3.0L turbo straight six engine rated at 382hp gets tuned to 500hp thanks to a new Borg-Warner turbo and ECU tuning among other items. The bodykit and 20 inch wheels finish off the look. They will only build 20 cars, a series production kit could however come in future.

PRICE: $120,000 including the car.

December 11, 2020 / Comments Off

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There’s a New Orange Supra in Fast and Furious 9

The Orange Sports Car Returns

We kind of can’t believe they’re shooting the ninth Fast and Furious movie. With that said, you have to admire the franchise for how it has helped to popularize performance cars. While these movies might not be amazing cinematic masterpieces, they’re darn enjoyable to watch and filled with plenty of beautiful cars.

According to the Instagram profile @_pw40_ a new orange Toyota Supra will appear in Fast 9. The user posted some images to the profiled showing the car being unloaded at the set of the movie. There’s also a video of the car during the filming of a chase scene.

The Instagram profile is a tribute page to Paul Walker. Walker famously drove a previous generation Supra in the first film. The orange Supra in the new film will mark the return of an orange Supra to the franchise. The movie is supposed to hit theatres in 2020.

It will be interesting to see how the car is worked into the storyline and if there are any references to the past character who drove an orange Supra. We would expect that would be the case.

August 22, 2019 / Comments Off

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Texas Tuner Company to Offer Manual Transmission for New Supra

So, You Can Get a Manual Afterall

If you were seriously disappointed with the fact that the Supra was without a manual transmission and further dismayed by the news that the car’s chief engineer said there’s not going to be a manual in the future and you’d be stuck with the 86, then you will be thrilled to hear that a Texas company will make one. Yep, the good folks at European Auto Group have your back. You can have the manual you want in the new Supra.

The company’s owner Art Bartosik told CarBuzz that there will be a six-speed manual available for customers who have an automatic Supra. “We are now taking customer deposits,” he said in an interview. European Auto Group is no stranger to manual enthusiasts. The company is known for putting gated manual gearboxes into supercars that didn’t come with them from the factory.

The job will take between 30 and 40 days to complete and will cost the customer about $12,000. That is pretty pricey for a manual transmission, but if you’re a manual gearbox enthusiast and you desperately want one, we can see forking over the money. To get your name on the list, you need to have the car and $6,000 to put down as a deposit.

The company has also partnered with Canadian tuning company ProTuner Freaks to give people’s Supra’s a little bit of a power boost should they want it. The tuner company will jack the power output up to about 420 hp. A 420 hp manual transmission Supra is what Toyota should have made in the first place.

August 15, 2019 / Comments Off

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Watch the 2020 Supra Lap Buttonwillow Raceway Faster than a Porsche 911 GT2

The Supra Is Super Speedy

The 2020 Toyota Supra was less exciting than some people would have hoped, but there’s no denying even from its many critics that the car is an impressive and fast machine. The car might not be designed for the racetrack, but that doesn’t mean it can’t perform well on one. The guys at Evasive Motorsports proved that by taking their black Supra to the Buttonwillow Raceway.

The car was able to lap the track with a time of 1:58.92, which is wicked fast. To put that into perspective, Carscoops notes that a 997-generation Porsche 911 GT2 around the same circuit in roughly the same conditions managed to put up a time of 1:59.7.

The 2020 Supra is a little more than meets the eye. The stated power numbers for the car have proved to be under-reported in previous tests, so it’s clear that Toyota is able to get a lot out of this vehicle. This is good news for both people who only drive their car on the street but also the track-day bros, who want to lay down some serious lap times.

You can check out the full video below. The guys at Evasive Motorsports put together a nice video of the car’s time at the racetrack.

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August 2, 2019 / Comments Off

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Rory Reid of Carfection Takes the Supra for a Spin

How Did Toyota Do With BMW’s Parts?

It did pretty well according to Rory Reid of Carfection, but it’s not without its faults. The presenter noted that the new Toyota Supra isn’t really a true Toyota car, but with declining sports car sales, Toyota had to get creative to make the Supra and have it make business sense. The first half of the video review almost makes you think Reid didn’t care for the Supra much or was at least unimpressed with it’s decidedly not Toyota construction.

In the second half of the video is a little more positive, with Reid taking the car out on the track. He says the Supra feels “like a fighter jet.” That’s pretty high praise for any sports car. However, it wasn’t all good news on the track either. Reid noted the brakes, gearbox, and exhaust note could be better.

Reid makes a good point at the end of the video. He says even though the car isn’t perfect that it’s still a good sports car, and it should be celebrated as such. He also makes the case that cars like this aren’t about logic. There are other, faster options for roughly the same money as a new Supra. The new Supra and honestly all sports cars are about emotion.

We have to agree with Reid. It’s an emotional purchase buying a sports car, especially a Supra, and that impulse is one worth celebrating. It’s nice to see Toyota embracing it’s sports car heritage with this model, even if it is flawed.

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May 21, 2019 / Comments Off

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What The First Drive Reviews Say of the 2020 Toyota Supra

It’s Mostly Good News

When Toyota first let it be known that the new 2020 Supra would be developed in partnership with BMW, many hardcore Supra fans were not happy. It makes sense. The Toyota Supra is such an iconic car. It’s one that has a legendary following. To let the Germans design the engine, transmission, steering rack, and dampers is a sacrilege.

However, the more people see of the car, the more it becomes clear that the Supra does have some major differences than the BMW Z4 with which it shares so much. Toyota, of course, wants to point out as many differences as possible. The Supra should still feel like a Supra and not like a BMW. From what we’re hearing in the press, it does, to a certain extent.

The interior seems to be some people’s biggest issue with the car. It looks like a BMW, but that’s not the end of the world, necessarily. BMW makes high-quality interiors. Still, if you’re a Toyota purist, that’s unacceptable. One good thing is that it looks a lot different than the BMW Z4, which is nice.

What the Reviews Say

There’s a lot of views and opinions of the 2020 Supra. Toyota recently had several journalists out to drive the new car. Here’s a look at what was said.

“While fans might roll their eyes at the partnership with BMW, it helped to spawn a stylish sports car with an upscale interior, plenty of power and great handling characteristics,” wrote Michael Gauthier of Carscoops.

“That the Supra lacks the genetic purity its disciples might prefer is clear, but genealogy is far less important than creating a driving tool capable of fully immersing its pilot in the experience. And that’s what Toyota has done with the Supra,” wrote Josh Jacquot of Car and Driver.

“And yes, this car can feel a little too soft and maybe even too refined at times, but Supra historically has been a road-focused sports car and this new one fits quite nicely in that mold, offering far more power, poise, and polish than previous generations,” wrote Tim Stevens of Roadshow by CNET.

“This is a genuinely transcendent product, pushing the limits of what’s possible in a competitive class, albeit with a platform, engine, and interior borrowed from BMW ... But get behind the wheel and the end result is a product that far exceeds any preconceived notions. Haters be damned,” wrote Jeff Perez of Motor1.

“Although the Supra’s BMW roots and joint efforts pay off in spades from behind the wheel, I was hoping for a Toyota thoroughbred,” wrote Chris Chin of The Drive.

It’s clear then that if you can get past the fact that the new Supra is indeed a BMW car with some serious Toyota flavored spice thrown in, then you’ll thoroughly enjoy this car. We think we can get excited about a car like this, but understand why some people never will.

May 13, 2019 / Comments Off

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Toyota GR Supra TRD Revealed with Loads of Carbon Parts

For the Osaka Motor Show 2019, Toyota’s performance department, TRD, have unveiled a series performance parts available for the recently released Toyota Supra. The aerodynamic package adds to what Toyota already offer.

The Toyota Supra TRD adds a new carbon front spoiler with side plates. There is a new carbon side skirt and a piece of carbon trim for the door. At the rear there is a rear bumper trim together with a rear spoiler lip, both in carbon fibre.

Toyota GR Supra TRD

At the wheel end of things, TRD have fitted the Supra with a set of 19 inch alloy wheels.

The aerodynamic kit is described as a Performance Concept at this stage and so it is not entirely clear whether you will be able to buy these performance parts for your Toyota Supra. We are sure that the next few years will see a healthy tuning industry built around the new Japanese sports car.

Of course, the Supra shares its DNA with BMW’s Z4. The engine that sits underneath is not Japanese. The Supra gets a 3.0-litre inline-6 cylinder engine with twin-scroll turbochargers engineered primarily by BMW. Power output is in confirmed at 340 hp and 500Nm of torque. It takes just 4.3 seconds to hit the 100 km/h mark.

The new Toyota Supra has proved popular, not least at auction! Barrett-Jackson recently sold the very first model for a scarcely believable $2.1 million. The proceeds of that sale will go to American Heart Association(AHA) and the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF).

February 11, 2019 / Comments Off

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Toyota Boss Says the Company Will Add More Sports Cars

Toyota Wants More Than the Supra

As pumped up as everyone was for the new Supra, it seems there could be more to come in terms of performance cars from Toyota. According to Autocar, Toyota’s boss Akio Toyoda said that he would like to see more performance cars in the future.

“SUVs are nice but, at the end of the day, is there anything better than a tight rear-wheel-drive sports car? I hope this won’t be the last Toyota sports car you see from us in the future,” he told the publication. That’s not a confirmation for any particular model, but it would seem that he wants to see more sports cars. If anyone can make that happen, it’s him.

Since the Supra made its official debut, there have been rumors of the company reviving the Celica and the MR2. In an interview with Road and Track, Masayuki Kai the Supra’s assistant chief engineer said that he wants to see the Celica and MR2 back in production. That car would likely come through a partnership between Toyota and Subaru, according to Motor1.

Despite this possible move by the automaker, Motor1 thinks it more likely that Toyota would start with Gazoo Racing variants of its existing lineup. Cars like the Yaris, Corolla, and 86 could receive serious upgrades. This would be a cost-effective way of expanding the lineup.

However, those cars likely wouldn’t be monsters on the road, just more engaging models. The real test will be if Toyota brings back the Celica or MR2. With Toyota’s new TNGA platform, it may be relatively easy for the company to turn out some true performance models, so new sports cars could come sooner than you think.

January 29, 2019 / Comments Off

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Supra’s Chief Engineer Claims a 7:40 Nürburgring Lap Time

Toyota Should Test His Theory

The Nürburgring is the track that sports cars and supercars make their name. If they lap the track fast, they earn a spot in every car enthusiasts list of favorites. The Supra, being the sports car it is will at some point have to make the lap, and when it does, the car’s chief engineer thinks it’ll do the run in 7:40.

Tetsuya Tada, Supra’s chief engineer, told Road and Track, that the car would hit its 155 mph electronic speed limiter on the course’s long straight. He said the company may at some point cut the speed limiter to see how fast the car could truly be around the racetrack. He also said the car would do a 7:40 lap time as it is right now.

“But even just driving it as it is, it’s really fast,” he told Road and Track.

The new BMW Z4 has more horsepower but it is heavier and has a soft top. The Supra is based on that car. While BMW has no official time for that car, Sport Auto, a German publication, recently posted a 7:55 lap time in a pre-production version of the Z4. It would be interesting to see how the Supra fared around the same track.

While it is down on power from the Z4, the Supra’s more aerodynamic hardtop and lighter overall weight could help it achieve a 7:40. The only way to know for sure is if Toyota makes the run. Toyota, get to it.

January 18, 2019 / Comments Off

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Toyota May Consider a Manual Transmission for the new Supra

Enthusiasts Want What Enthusiasts Want

The new Toyota Supra is a car built for racers, sports car enthusiasts, and anyone who likes sporty cars in general. That crowd of people seems a bit miffed by the lack of a manual transmission in the new car. However, according to Carscoops, a manual could be coming for the Supra.

Tetsuya Tada is the chief engineer for the car. He told journalists if there was enough of an uproar for the new A90 Supra to get a manual transmission that Toyota would put one in. It all depends on the buyers and what they want. That means you’d better get to the Supra forums and social media and raise hell if you want a manual.

According to Tada-san, it would take “a persistent, overwhelming demand” for Toyota to put a regular manual transmission in the car. To me, that says Toyota doesn’t want to do it. However, I’m sure the company would if its fans all-out revolted.

Could a Manual Make the Supra Awesome?

There’s already mixed opinions of the new Supra. While the car doesn’t look all that much like the BMW Z4, under the skin it’s essentially the same car but with less power. In other words, some Supra fans feel cheated. A manual transmission may be the salve they need to heal their wounds and feel good about the car.

2020 Toyota Supra interior — Image from Carscoops

Tada-san also noted that Toyota tested with manual transmissions, so it would seem that the company has a manual to use. However, one detail may throw a wrench in the solution.

The manual transmission was tested in markets that use right-hand-drive cars, meaning Toyota would have to flip things around for the North American market. It will be interesting to see what Toyota fans do and subsequently what Toyota does.

January 15, 2019 / Comments Off

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Another Supra Leak With Images and Possible Price

No Supra Secrets

Toyota will officially debut the Supra at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but there might be nothing left to discuss at that point.

According to new information via SupraMKV, the price of the new Supra will start at $49,990 for the base model. The next trim level up is called Premium, and it will have a price starting at $53,990. The trim level after that is the Launch Edition. It will start at $55,250.

Of course, all of these prices have not been confirmed by Toyota, so there’s a chance that they could be incorrect. SupraMKV also leaked a couple new images of the whole car in all its sporty glory.

Supra leaked image and price — Image from SupraMKV

All of the trim levels have a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. The Launch Edition is the pre-order version of the car, according to Jalopnik. The site says the model is based on the Premium version of the car with a few additional aesthetic changes.

The starting price of the Supra sounds very reasonable when you look around the industry at other sporty coupes. If the prices are correct, we could see most potential buyers being pleased with it.

While it’s nice to keep getting all of these leaks on the Supra, I almost wish people would be able to keep some of it to themselves. There won’t be much for Toyota to reveal in Detroit. With that said, I’m going to keep reporting on the leaks because, well, the Supra is awesome, and I want to know more about it. I’m looking forward to the official reveal.

January 12, 2019 / Comments Off

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Toyota Teases the Supra One Last Time, Maybe

Tease Much, Toyota?

The 2020 Toyota Supra will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 14 at 9:40 am EST. Toyota couldn’t help itself, though. It had to tease its super hyped up sports car one last time before the official reveal. The company posted the image above to its media site with a short message about the upcoming reveal.

The company also provided a link where you can watch a live stream of the reveal. This link will allow journalists and other interested parties partake in the debut of the model without actually being at the show.

Toyota’s new Supra is one of the most hyped up vehicle reveals in a long, long time. The company has just exacerbated the buzz around the car by slowly letting information and teaser shots trickle out. Frankly, it’s been a little ridiculous.

However, it’s nice to see that the company has a sense of humor about its new sports car and all the buzz it has around it. They had a somewhat silly line in their latest teaser that said simply, “We promise, this is the last teaser* … *subject to change.”

That makes me think Toyota might just do something else one last time. At this point, I’m fine with that. It doesn’t matter what else the company teases or hints at, the Supra is coming on Januar 14, and I’ll be ready to check it out when it comes.

January 10, 2019 / Comments Off

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