Your Supra by Gazoo

Speaking of sporty Toyotas (yes, we’ve come across two this week — amazing), it seems the forthcoming Supra won’t be badged a Toyota. Rather, the manufacturer will use the return of the fabled six-cylinder model to its stable to launch the Gazoo performance subbrand.

Er, Gazoo? No, nothing to do with that side-line spaceman character from, of all things, The Flintstones, Gazoo Racing is the department within Toyota that oversees the engineering, tuning and management of the

GAZOO RACING IS THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN TOYOTA THAT OVERSEES THE ENGINEERING, TUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CAR GIANT’S VARIOUS COMMITMENTS TO MOTORSPORT

car giant’s various commitments to motorsport.

It’s a memorable name and clearly has cachet, as Gazoo Racing president Shigeki Tomoyama told British motoring outlet Auto Express that when the Supra emerges, it will officially be the “Supra by Gazoo”. The Supra’s sister car — the BMW Z4, which shares a platform with the sporty Toyota — is due next year.

Exciting stuff. Although given that Toyota unceremoniously abandoned its US-focused Scion sub-brand last year, the first Gazoo will need to be an undeniable hit to ensure longevity of the badge.

Thankfully though, we imagine that having “Supra” in the nameplate means Toyota would have to be trying hard indeed to stuff it all up.