Toyota launched its new Supra several years ago, but now it comes with a manual transmission. We test it to find what it’s all about.
The new manual is slower than the auto
How about a new sports car that’s slower and thirstier than the one that’s been on sale for a few years? Not much of a sales pitch but that’s what Toyota has delivered with its latest addition to the Supra range.
Instead of the eight-speed auto that has been standard on the most powerful Toyota you can buy, the newcomer goes old school with a six-speed manual. Enthusiasts rejoice!
The manual is the same price as the auto, which makes it about $95,000 drive-away for the GT we tested.
As for the acceleration claims, the 0-100km/h time blows out from 4.1 seconds to 4.4. So, it’s still very quick.
But it’s a lot of fun
There’s a whole heap more to the manual than its outright pace. While the eight-speed in the auto is an intelligent slick-shifting unit, the manual puts more in the hands of the driver.
The six-speed allows you to exploit the flexibility of one of the best engines on the market. From just above idle to its lofty, free-spinning red-line the 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder pulls strongly and cleanly. And there’s no shortage of thrust, with a full 285kW and a thoroughly useful 500Nm, which kicks in from as low as 1800rpm.
Throw in the rev matching function for downshifting and it makes for an engaging sports car.
Our only gripe was with an occasionally notchy shift action, something more noticeable when parking.
It’s more BMW than Toyota
It may have a Toyota badge but the Supra is more BMW when you delve beneath the distinctive sheet metal. The underpinnings are shared with the BMW Z4 and the two are built at the same Austrian factory.
The Supra’s 3.0-litre engine is shared with various BMWs. But buying the Supra is a more affordable way to experience one of the world’s great engines.
Even the cabin and infotainment are more BMW than Toyota. That isn’t such a bad thing, especially for those looking for some Euro touches.
It’s a head turner
The bulging lines and low-slung stance of the Supra makes it a serious head turner, even when parked. You can thank the Fast & Furious movie franchise for that; it’s made Japanese performance cars seriously sexy to the younger generation.
That head turning comes at a price, though. The low floor height and a roof that curves around towards the doors means you need to twist and turn to settle into the body-hugging seats. And the boot is built more for small bags or an overnighter than suitcases and bikes.
Traditionalists will love it
The Supra has sharp steering and loads of grip, which makes it behave like a true sports car. It demands precision when positioning it on the road, but if you get everything right it’s a rewarding way to carve through corners.
The extra control of the manual gearbox adds to the experience, although there were times in traffic when we wished there was a computer to take care of that third pedal.