After months of rumors, Toyota has confirmed that it will introduce a manual gearbox option for its flagship Supra sports car.
The Toyota Supra launched in 2019, sharing much of its powertrain and chassis with the similarly positioned BMW Z4.
The primary engine option is a 335hp 3.0-liter inline-six, and an entry-level 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was added to the ranks for 2020.
But all Supra models – and all versions of the technically identical BMW Z4 – currently use a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. Crucially, its main rivals, the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and BMW M2 Competition, are available with a manual option, as is the younger Toyota GR 86 sports coupe.
The firm said: “Toyota Gazoo Racing sports car customers and fans have spoken and we have listened. A Toyota GR Supra with an all-new bespoke manual transmission is coming soon.”
The new gearbox in question is believed to be a six-speed unit, as used by Gazoo Racing’s other sports cars, the GR 86 and Toyota GR Yaris, but no supplier has yet been named.
It’s also unconfirmed whether Toyota will offer the manual with the four- and six-cylinder engines. BMW only offers a manual option for its six straight-line sports cars, the M2, M3 and M4 (the latter two aren’t in Europe).
It’s not yet clear whether the manual will represent a saving over the automatic car, or whether the shift option will come with any chassis or powertrain changes aimed at providing a more driver-focused character.
So far, Toyota has only revealed that the manual car will be visually signaled by a new red Supra badge on the rear, and has promised that it has been “designed to offer enthusiasts something closer to the Gazoo Racing DNA and will enhance the driving experience”. More details are expected in the coming weeks.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-15 08:31:33
