Toyota flex es its muscle
THE Detroit motor show this week became the super- charged launch-pad for Toyota’s long awaited supra. Toyota’s new fifth-generation twoseater 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 3-litre ‘straight six’ petrol engine developing 335bhp and linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the new GR supra will sprint from rest to 62 mph in only 4.3 seconds, and up to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
prices will start from £52,695 when it hits uK 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 race- car inspired interior of Alcantara-covered bucket seats.
A high-spec limited edition A90 version finished in storm Grey paint will cost £56,945. 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 doublebubble 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 carmanufacturers including Audi, BmW, mercedes-Benz, porsche, Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, mitsubishi and mini are giving 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.