The New Toyota Supra is Almost Here!
The latest one of Toyota’s icons is rolling in.
It has been a long time since the days that drag racing was popularized by the first “Fast And The Furious” movie and video games like “Need For Speed Underground”. An iconic car in both those releases was the Toyota Supra. Released way back in 1998, this car has achieved its legendary status thanks to its customization options, versatility, and beastly performance on the road that left other exotic cars eating dust. Its aesthetic exuded alpha male and this car was also a favorite ride of famous sports athletes.
Now for a bit of a history lesson. The initial four generations of the Toyota Supra were produced from 1978 to 2002. It was was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was both longer and wider. In 1998, Toyota ceased sales of the fourth generation Supra in the United States and in 2002 Toyota officially stopped production of the Supra in Japan. In 2019, we were struck with a surprise that the fifth generation Supra, which is now related to the G29 BMW Z4, will be introduced. Thanks BMW!
The new Toyota Supra will be released for sale this 2020 and actually debuted in the Detroit Auto Show a few days ago. Performance wise, this is a 3.0-liter that’s turbocharged to put out 335 hp, and it has rear-wheel-drive, a perfect 50/50 weight distribution and can hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. It’s only available with an 8-speed automatic transmission, but comes standard with a computer-controlled suspension and active rear differential that shifts power from side to side to improve handling. Toyota is even putting the Supra’s name and face on its spec Nascar Xfinity Series cars this season to drive the performance point home. Toyota’s North American General Manager, Jack Hollis says the company shares the same level of purchase consideration as Ford and Chevrolet among NASCAR fans and expects the Supra to connect with them just as well as the Camry and Tundra have. It’s very much a grand tourer, though, with an upscale, two-seat interior and plenty of electronic safety aids including automatic emergency brakes, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, but you can always turn them off and just drive.
On the flipside, there have been considerable backlash from fans say that the new Toyota Supra looks ugly and have trust issues with Toyota’s partnership with BMW and issues with big corporations and their bigger promises. This being said, let’s see when the cars start hitting the road and find out whether or not to buy it. Prices start at $50,920 (AUD 71,690) when the Supra speeds in showrooms later this year.
