Rumour mills had speculated for quite some time that there was a deal between Toyota and BMW that would result in a new sports car. Then, at the Geneva Auto Show 2018, it was confirmed that indeed something was in the offing. It came in the mode of the GR Supra Rating Concept.
The Toyota Supra will finally debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2019. As if to tease customer minds, Andrew Cullis, Marketing Director for Toyota in Great Britain says, “The new Toyota Supra is a thoroughbred sports car with huge appeal to customers who are seeking a great driving experience and exclusivity.”
This exclusivity is in the form of only 300 examples of the supercar being produced. “We want to give people the earliest opportunity to secure their vehicle,” adds Cullis.
One can’t fail to notice why Toyota has been silent on the sporting arena where it glowed with the likes of Corolla GTSs, MR2s, and of course the Celica Group B Rally Cars. A change came when Toyota enticed the market with the RAV4, Corolla, and Camry, three models that proudly cater for 7% of the total American vehicle sales.
Combined, they sold a whopping 1.2 million cars in 2017. It is not surprising therefore that Toyota had shelved its sporting category for some time.
Housing a twin-turbo inlet-6 engine developed in partnership with BMW, Toyota Supra hopes to regain its lost glory in this segment. Tada-san, chief engineer on this ambitious project sums it up with energy, “The cars must be fun to drive and have an ease of maneuverability.”
