ABT AMPS AUDI’S RS4 UP TO 390KW

IT’S FAIR to say that the new Toyota Supra has had a mixed reception since being formally revealed at the Detroit Motor Show last week.

It seems most fans just can’t make peace with the fact that it’s so closely based on the BMW Z4 and that drawn-out teaser campaign prior to its unveiling could not have helped matters much.

Yet there is someone out there who was prepared to part with the equivalent of R29 million for the first new-generation Supra to roll off the assembly line, although it was for a good cause too.

The first fifth-gen Toyota GR

Supra fetched $2.1 million at the 48th Annual Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona recently, with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association and the Bob Woodruff Foundation for war veterans.

But more being than just a shiny rear-driven tax write-off with the number 1 in its VIN, the first Supra model comes with some unique kit, including the racing suit, helmet, shoes and gloves worn by Toyota

CEO Akio Toyoda during his final Nurburgring test run in a prototype before signing the car off. The Toyota boss also took time to sign the vehicle’s engine compartment.

Supra #1 also comes with some unique “launch edition” exterior and interior touches, including matte grey exterior paint, red mirror caps, matte black wheels and a red interior colour scheme with contrasting carbon fibre inserts. The rest is as per the “regular” Supra revealed last week, which means a 3-litre straight-six turbopetrol engine tuned to 250kW and 500Nm, which is enough – BMW claims – for a 4.3 second 0-100km/h sprint.

Power goes to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. No mention of a manual gearbox as yet, but fans are surely going to plead for one. |