If you have not heard already, the Toyota Supra is back after two decades of absence in North America. Its arrival in mid-2019 has caused an uproar among major Supra fans and Toyota enthusiasts. Here at Mount Airy Toyota, we are so excited to tell you all about the 2020 Supra, what it means for long-time fans of the car, and how a new generation will be ready to fall in love this year with the Supra.
Witness the return of a legendary sports car this summer
The Toyota Supra is back for 2020. In terms of hype, it is similar to witnessing the end of Avengers or the final season of Game of Thrones; there are definitely cult followings and there are major fans out there who have awaited its return. After 20 years, this beloved sports car is back.
Revival does not even begin to cover it
The revival of this 1980s and early 1990s classic, two decades after it was discontinued, was unveiled at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. Every Supra shares the same core fundamentals with a smooth inline six up front, rear-wheel drive, and a modern chassis. The 2020 Supra will feature the classic long-hood, low-riding, two-door design, and short-deck proportion, as well. But, in line with Toyota’s mission to deliver the purest expression of performance, the 2020 Supra will redefine sports cars just as it has time and time again.
Take a step back in time to appreciate the present
The 1993 Supra Turbo was praised for its acceleration, skid pad performance, and antilock brakes that set records at a 70 mph stopping distance. The 3.0-liter engine did not rank well with American consumers, however, and with the $39,900 price tag, Toyota only sold 2,901 cars.
In 1996, Toyota was required to re-engineer the Supra to include the OBD II systems, inflating the model’s base cost to $38,600. This made the ’93 Supra Turbo model soar to $50,400 in 1996. As a result, Toyota only sold 852 Supras in ’96, and at that time, had not reached the point of selling 10,000 Supras in the United States.
By 1998, while Toyota sales were beginning to recover, the Supra just wasn’t selling as expected. Buyers simply were not willing to pay what the Supra costed, despite its incredible performance and advanced powertrain. This led to the development of racing enthusiasts who became cult followers of the Supra, as they understood that the Supra Turbo’s 2JZ-GTE had enormous amounts of power and boost.
A true cinematic vehicle
For the younger generations who are not long-time fans of the Supra, they just might get all the hype if they have watched one of the biggest film franchises of the past ten years, where the car was featured and gained a new reputation among the millennial audience.
The timeline definitely did not stop in the year ’98 for the Toyota Supra. In the year 2000, the National Import Racing Associate director, Craig Lieberman, had modified a Supra Turbo to 600 horsepower and was showing it off at an imported car show. It was at this point that he was approached by a man who asked him to consult on a film about racing. This film was called Redline, and it featured a character named Officer Brian O'Connor, and an all-too-familiar plotline that we all recognize now about street racing and big-rig heists.
The film we’re talking about here had a name change, from Redline to The Fast and the Furious. Before the script hit filming, the producers had to change a main character’s vehicle from a Nissan 240SX to, yes, you guessed it, the Supra. This was because the producers needed to pull a character off of a truck and through a car’s sunroof in the movie’s climactic scene, thus requiring a car with a Targa top and the credibility as a power-driven performance car.
As the highest grossing film of 2001, and a classic series reaching millions and millions of fans, The Fast and the Furious was a landmark film for car culture and the racing scene across America. It was also because of the film that the Supra went from being unable to sell in ten years what the Corvette sold in one year, to a nine-second drag car capable of holding its line with major racing names.
The launch of the 2020 Toyota Supra
The Supra is finally back after 20 years, and the newest model is only being offered as an automatic and sporting a BMW engine. The top-end model has an inline-six twin-turbo engine producing 335hp, similar to numbers of the Supra that debuted in 1993. Will it deliver on the hype though? Let’s dive into it.
Zero to (almost) 100, real fast
If you are interested in power, then you will fall in love with the Toyota Supra. In its advertisements, the Supra reported 335 horsepower and 365-lb of torque. Needless to say, this car can really move. Then, Car and Driver gave it a run and revealed that it can hit 60 mph in only 3.8 seconds. Now that is fast.
This powerhouse is being co-developed with BMW and will share its architecture with the upcoming Z4, meaning the 3.0-liter turbocharged engine is shared with the Z4. It will boast a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower, 365-lb-ft. of torque, and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This means going from 0-60 miles an hour in an estimated 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 155 with a curb weight of 3397 pounds. The engine is as far back and as low as possible, which optimizes the center of gravity for a 50:50 front/rear weight distribution—making your drive, no matter the speed, as smooth as possible.
Toyota’s approach to the design was to create the best driver’s car, full stop. Drivers in the Supra can control the throttle with millimeter precision. The Supra is extremely well positioned in the market with its manageable and impressive performance.
Toyota never sells on just one feature
Toyota understands that one of the main selling points of the original supra was the incredible engine and powertrain, but they also know that the rest of the car has to measure up to consumer expectations. That is why Toyota invested so much time into engineering the rest of the car just as carefully as the engine itself.
This is not to mention, too, that Toyota has definitely learned from its longstanding history and fan base with the Supra. If the car performed so well, followed by years of low sales, then temporarily forgotten, then Toyota will only build a successor that will be remembered and revered.
So let us fully focus on what the Mk.5 has to offer.
Styling
The first thing you will notice about the 2020 Supra is that it is truly a work of art. The science behind the design is just as impressive and is what really makes the car a masterpiece. The wide grille is designed to channel cool air directly to the turbocharged engine, which in turn, helps optimize performance.
The “double-bubble” roof adds space inside the vehicle, while also reducing aerodynamic drive outside. Intakes and vents are everywhere. And, as with any expectation for a sports car, the rear spoiler reduces body life and keeps the Supra planted at high speeds.
The wheelbase is 97.2 inches and the length is 172.5. Unlike previous Supras, the 2020 only seats two, with more than sufficient space for someone over 6ft. The cargo area, albeit narrow, can more than handle your weekend getaway luggage.
The 2020 Supra has already received great reception on the look and feel of the vehicle, as it remained true to its highly regarded lineage.
Control
Toyota provided a rigid chassis, adaptive suspension, and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires to ensure that the Supra drives as good as it looks. Long turns will have you feeling what the car can do, plus you can steer with the extremely responsive throttle. Slide into Sport mode, turn off traction control, and you can really enjoy the Supra’s suspension tuning, steering feel, and body rigidity. With the tightness in the center of the vehicle, the car turns in quickly and provides a comforting sense of confidence at high speeds. Even with high winds and broken pavement, the rigid chassis delivers a sensational ride quality.
Safety
The Supra is equipped with its active differential and Brembo front brakes, ensuring that the driver has ultimate control over the vehicle. This new model will, of course, come decked out with LED headlights, a 6.5” infotainment screen, forward collision warning, automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a sports mode.
Trim levels
The Supra will be available in three trim levels: 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and Launch Edition. The standard 3.0 trims include a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, adaptive suspension, forward collision warning, launch control, and shift paddles. The 3.0 Premium trim upgrades the infotainment screen to an 8.8-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 12-speaker sound system, wireless charging, a color head-up display, and heated, leather-upholstered seats.
The GR Supra Launch Edition will only be available to a lucky few. Why? Because the GR Supra Launch Edition is limited to only 1500 units. The Launch edition will include 19-inch, unique matte-black wheels, and a red leather interior, red mirror caps, and an individually numbered interior badge with Akio Toyoda’s signature. The Supra Launch edition is available in Renaissance Red 2.0, Nocturnal or Absolute Zero.
Fun fact: The very first globally produced all-new 2020 GR Supra was auctioned off for $2.1 million dollars this year. This all happened at the Barrett-Jackson Auction, where proceeds benefitted the American Heart Association and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which aids injured veterans and their families. The buyer’s identity hasn’t been released yet, but we do know that the first Supra was flat gray with red mirror caps, black wheels, and had red upholstery. The winner’s car was signed by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda on the engine bay, and received a racing suit, driving gloves, shoes, and the helmet Akio wore when he personally tested the Supra during its development.
Price
The base price for this vehicle is $45,000. The Launch edition has a starting MSRP of $55,250. The 3.0 Premium has a starting MSRP of $53,990. The 3.0 has a starting MSRP of $49,990.
Additional Specs At A Glance
- 365lb.–ft. of torque
- 3397 pounds, total
- 155 mph top speed
- 24 city mpg
- 31 highway mpg
The Supra and Mount Airy Toyota
The 2020 Supra has had car fanatics awaiting its return for many years, and 2019 has unveiled the iconic sports car once and for all. With the incoming influx of driving impressions and personal reviews, it will be exciting to see how this light, agile, fun, and overall reasonable sports car will deliver to consumers. Mount Airy Toyota is excited to recommend the Supra to any eager sports car fan, and with the starting price at less than $50,000, you’re definitely getting the bang for your buck!
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