Toyota Supra Returns After 21 Years with BMW Engine; And it's Not Cheap

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Jan 14, 2019

It's quicker than the Bimmer though

After months speculation, spy shots, leaked photos and teasers, the new Toyota Supra finally made its public debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. The Japanese sports car returns after 21 years with BMW underpinnings and pricing that compares to premium vehicles.

Sporty Yet Classy

The first global Toyota product developed by Gazoo Racing, the Supra is loosely based on the FT-1 concept from a few years ago, but it also incorporates styling features from the fourth-generation A80 model.

We've heard people in Detroit complain the new Supra isn't aggressive enough and that it needed sharper lines. While I agree that sharper, wedge-style sports cars look very cool, Toyota most likely wanted to keep the Supra familiar into the current lineup, as well as in line with its predecessor.

It looks sporty, but at the same time it boasts that grand tourer vibe with the bubbly roof and the sloping rear section. The bold colors that Toyota created for the Supra, Renaissance Red 2.0, Nitro Yellow, and Downshift Blue, enhance the coupe's sporty lines. It also created a new logo for the A90-gen car, in which the "S" was inspired by a race track's s-bend.

Driver-Focused Interior

The interior is equally sporty. You'll definitely feel snug in there and the race-inspired seats with integrated headrests will keep you in place during spirited driving and track action.

BMW-sourced Engine

Under the hood, the Supra features a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Although Toyota doesn't mention it in its press release, the mill is borrowed from BMW and shared with quite a few Bimmers, including the Z4. It mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and sprints to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. That's a few tenths quicker than Z4 M40i, and the benchmark also makes the Supra the quickest Toyota yet. Top speed is limited to the usual 155 mph.

Other goodies include an active differential that uses an electric motor and multi-plate clutches to control lateral torque. This device controls torque distribution between the rear wheels to enhance stability and improve high-speed cornering.

Not Exactly Affordable

Toyota also announced U.S. pricing for the Supra and just as we suspected, it doesn't come cheap. Go with the 3.0 Premium trim, which adds a few goodies, and the sticker jumps to $53,990. If you want to own the Launch Edition model, based on the 3.0 Premium, be prepared to pay $55,250 before options. Options like the Driver Assist Package and Navigation and JBL Audio cost $1,195 and $2,460, respectively.

Stay tuned for more info on the new Supra, as well as a complete review.

2020 Toyota Supra Specifications

Wheelbase	97.2 in.
Overall Length	172.5 in.
Overall Width	73.0 in.
Overall Height	50.9 in.
Track Width Front	62.8 in.
Track Width Rear	62.6 in.
Curb Weight	3,397 lbs.
0-60 mph	4.1 seconds