What reborn Supra means for NZ
Richard Bosselman reports.
With GR Supra just months away from New Zealand release, what kind of Toyota are we exactly in for?
A truly exciting one, vows Toyota New Zealand general manager Neeraj Lala.
Such a Supra fanboy he says applied to work for this brand more than 20 years ago driven, in part, by hope of one day getting one as a company drive (and, yes, in case you’re wondering . . . his wish is to be fulfilled), he says we’re in for a wild ride.
Inevitably there’s debate about the styling and it being a BMW co-share. How do you handle these issues when the car releases here?
What issues? Coshares, product shares . . . we see these as a motor industry future.
We don’t see our strategic alliances as being issues. They’re a strength. Those alliances are formed with strategic thought and focus.
How long before TNZ announces timing and pricing?
We’ve already reached out to customers who have expressed intent to purchase.
Nearly half of our first’s year’s allocation is tied to what I would call ‘‘better than firm’’ orders. We’re hoping to start delivering these cars in June, July, August. I say hoping because we have never received cars from Austria before. There’s some logistical work.
We have explained to customers pricing hasn’t been confirmed but we can confirm it will be a six-figure car.
We’ve been sharing information already; we hope to share the complete details in early February.
Who will be the Supra customer here? Do you know if many 86 owners will transfer?
Nearly every customer who has put their name down has had an interest or an ownership in an 86.
Do I think all 86 customers will transfer over? I don’t think they will. The philosophy around 86 was always around it being an affordable sports car. Supra sits
. . . in a slightly different place. I think affluent Generation Ys will come forward to buy one.
Just 26 86s were sold new here last year. Do you have a sales target?
Those 86 sales last year are not really a reflection of the sports car market. It’s more representative of model life cycle trends . . . sports cars tend to go really strong in the first few years then they come off that excitement.
We believe Supra is going to go strongly . . . it’ll be the job of our team in Japan to keep up that excitement for as long as possible.
We’re not going to have the luxury of spare cars. We’re going to have an extremely tight supply, we’re talking less than 40. For us it’s not about a sales target. It’s about re-energising, growing the brand.
What’s your thought about your car having less power (250kW versus 284kW) and being slower in the 0-100kmh sprint than the BMW Z4; did you expect it to have a deficit?
Through the [development] process no-one had any expectations of what the other was doing. Each focused on what they wanted to deliver. Our target was to deliver a 0-100kmh time in the low fours.
It’s a good performance package with an exceptional handling package. We’re extremely happy.
Gazoo Racing has given detail about the 2.0-litre engine, in 146kW and 192kW formats – are either for NZ?
We debated that at length and decided our market is too small and too niche for multiple powertrain options.
Having said that, it’s not out of the question that if we needed to, we could.
Does that leave the door open for these to become Japanese used imports?
With our open market customers can bring in what they want.
We will still fully stand behind any customer who brings in a Toyota from Japan.
If customers start purchasing those models out of Japan it might well give us some direction as to where the market might be heading.
At this stage, for us, it’s focused on the 3.0-litre.
TNZ has previously indicated interest in having other Gazoo product. Might that include the Supra Launch Edition from the Detroit Motor Show?
More than 10 Gazoo models are available in Japan, of which some have already worked their way into New Zealand as used product. My absolute passion and focus is to bring in a broader range of Gazoo product over the next 12-24 months.
As for the Launch Edition? No, but the colour is available to us. It is a matte finish similar to that on the special edition Lexus 10th anniversary models, a higher maintenance paint.
Currently no customer here has asked for this finish.
Supra’s been built to double as a track car. Toyota NZ has skin in motorsport. Is there any possibility of a distributor-supported Supra race or drift car?
There are lots of ways to improve the Gazoo Racing image but I’m not sure if creating another one-make race series is the right strategy . . . it’s unlikely.
We haven’t had any requests from the drifting community to put a Supra in.
We’re open to considering it on its merits.