NEW TOYOTA GR SUPRA

A performance upgrade has lifted Supra power to 285kW thanks to a revised exhaust manifold, ECU remap and new pistons, and you’ll note new aluminium strut braces under the bonnet, too. What’s more, a new matte colour called Phantom Grey will pique buyer interest but the new palette hero is Horizon Blue, which happens to be the finish of our test car.
Horizon is restricted to the Limited Edition model. For a paltry $1000 extra, it adds matte black wheels and leather-bolstered Alcantara sports seats with blue stitching that extends across the dashboard. The result is a rather special Supra with more frills and a healthy dose of extra power but an identical pricetag to the car that debuted 12 months back. Pretty easy to see the value in that equation.
As you now know, the initials GR feature in the full model name to reflect the development work of Toyota’s in-house performance division, Gazoo Racing. The initials BMW also feature in the full background story because Toyota and BMW have shared resources to good effect in creating this car and the new Z4 roadster respectively.
Under the Toyota bonnet badge sits a Munich-sourced straight-six that is tuned for both high performance and a unique character. The twin-scroll, single-turbo 3.0-litre makes the Supra big on outright acceleration and complements the old-school driving charm of a potent front-engined, rear-driven two-door with a shortish wheelbase and wide track. There’s great capacity for acrobatics in the bends.
Overall character might be stronger still with a manual gearbox but the mandatory eight-speed ZF auto makes a strong case for itself because peak torque of 500Nm is easily accessed in any gear from just 1600rpm. There are just two drive modes, Normal and Sport.
For evidence of BMW carry-overs in the cockpit, look no further than the 8.8-inch infotainment screen. First impressions suggest it functions well, of course, and who would complain about proven tech inclusions from a premium partner?
There’s no hybridisation with the Supra’s exterior styling, which excites and even intimidates at a standstill. The long bonnet blends with a very small glasshouse, double-bubble roof, voluptuous sweeping haunches and a heavily structured rear end. Note the small ducktail spoiler that bridges a pair of jutting tail lights and blends with vents to form boomerang shapes.
A real statement car with a cherished nameplate, the Supra seems easy to live with, proving a relaxed cruiser when required, and easy and rewarding to drive with gusto.

For specifications, click on SPECS tab on main image.