This beast is back ...17 years later
THE Detroit motor show this month became the supercharged launch-pad for Toyota’s long awaited Supra.
The company’s new fifth-generation two-seater muscle car coupe stole the headlines when the wraps finally came off – marking a return of the Supra name after 17 years.
Powered by a turbo-charged 3litre ‘straight six’ petrol engine developing 335bhp and linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the new GR Supra will sprint from rest to 100kph in only 4.3 seconds, and up to an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.
Toyota Ireland has yet to announce a price but in the UK it starts from £52,695 when it hits showrooms later this year.
‘GR’ stands for ‘Gazoo Racing’ after Toyota’s performance arm and its influence can be seen throughout, right down to the racecar inspired interior of Alcantara covered bucket seats.
A high-spec limited edition A90 version finished in Storm Grey paint. Built under licence by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria and gunning for the likes of Porsche’s Cayman, the new Supra was developed in conjunction with Germany’s BMW whose own sibling version is the new Z4 roadster.
Promising ‘agile, stable and rewarding handling’, the new Supra comes with two driving modes – Normal and Sport – and a special track setting that removes elements of the electronic stability control when you want to slide around a circuit using your own skill. With a long bonnet and double-bubble roof, it’s inspired by the legendary Toyota 2000GT, a softtop version of which was driven by Sean Connery as James Bond in the 1967 movie You Only Live Twice.
The 2000GT was also turned into a popular Corgi toy.
Back in Detroit, or ‘Motor City’ as it’s known, many major car manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, Mitsubishi and Mini gave the show a miss this year – because it’s freezing in January.
Detroit organisers have decided, sensibly, that from 2020 the show will be shifted to June. Not before time.
SOFTTOP VERSION WAS DRIVEN BY SEAN CONNERY AS JAMES BOND