2020 Toyota Supra is an Exciting Sports Car

Without a doubt, Toyota is acknowledged for its eminence, consistency, and vehicles that come with excellent handling prowess. However, that’s not all the Japanese automaker is about. The company has been bringing in a quantity of emotion into its cars in recent years. It’s also been having some new products in the pipeline, developed with the assistance of other manufacturers. The first one was the Toyota 86 that involved Subaru in its making, the next and the latest one is a spiritually purified Supra that was built with BMW’s help.

Yes, after nearly two decades, the Toyota Supra has finally made a comeback for 2020. The hatchback coupe was revealed at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show on Monday. It pays tribute to the nameplate’s heritage and seems like it’s capable of delivering sports car delights.

Initially, there comes only with one engine, namely a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six – that’s the exact setup Supra enthusiasts would desire. And when we talk about BMW’s involvement in the car’s making, this Z4-sourced engine is what we mean. The turbo-six unit cranks out 335 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. That output is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The car is estimated to have an acceleration time of 4.1 seconds from a standstill to 60 mph, as well as an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.

It’s expected that the Japanese automaker will also offer a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is derived from BMW too, and maybe also a manual transmission, although it remains to be seen if the gearbox will be offered with both engines or just one.

As aforementioned, the Supra is the result of collaboration between Toyota (through its Gazoo Racing) and BMW. According to Toyota, the new hatchback coupe comes with a rigid construction, an exceptionally low center of gravity, and ideal front/rear mass balance of 50/50.

It also features aluminum front control arms and an aluminum five-link independent rear suspension, as well as standard adaptive adjustable dampers configurable in Normal or Sport mode. The car’s action can be controlled by variable-effort power steering. Torque between the rear wheels is also under control thanks to a clutch in an active differential that can open or close anywhere from zero to 100 percent. The active rear differential helps keep better drive in turns and makes certain unbiased handling by lessening both oversteer and understeer.

Weighing 3,397-pound, the new Supra rides on Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires – 255/35R19s at the front axle and 275/35R19s at the back. For the braking job, the vehicle relies on 4-piston Brembo front calipers that hold its 13.7-inch front brake discs.

When Sport mode is activated, the car will be more responsive than before. It produces a lesser amount of stability control, quicker throttle response, increased steering weight, longer gear holding, fine-tuned differential, and more piercing exhaust sound. If you want the Supra to just be calm down, then Normal mode is all you need.

This compact hatchback coupe has a wheelbase length of 97.2 inches while its overall length is 172.5 inches, which is longer by just 6 inches than the Toyota 86. In terms of appearance, the fifth generation Supra is basically inspired by its predecessor which was launched in the 90s. However, it shows much more expression than before. There are many architectural lines and curves that bring together intakes and scoops. In addition, it also has some classic feel represented by its long bonnet, double-bubble roof panel, extensive hips, and undersized tail with an outlined spoiler.

The interior is unmistakably a BMW-designed one, this can be seen from the infotainment system and sport seats which is made by the German carmaker. The entry-level variant 3.0 features a 6.5-inch display with the BMW iDrive system, while the 3.0 Premium and the Launch Edition variants feature an 8.8-inch display and a rotary touch controller. Sitting before the driver is a digital instrument cluster, but Toyota also has a color head-up display on offer.

The 3.0 variant also features Alcantara seat upholstery, memory for the seats, Bluetooth, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The 3.0 Premium and Launch Edition versions come with heated leather seats, a 12-speaker JBL sound system, Apple CarPlay, and wireless phone charging.

The first wave of the Supra’s production will include 1500 Launch Editions. Depending on your choice, they will arrive either in Nocturnal Black, Absolute Zero White, or Renaissance Red 2.0; with standard features such as 19-inch forged matte black wheels, red mirror caps, and a carbon-fiber plaque on the dash that displays the vehicle’s production number and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda’s signature.

The black and white variants will have their seats wrapped in red leather, in addition to red leather steering wheel grips, red center consoles, and carbon-fiber trim. Meanwhile, the red version will pack a black interior with carbon fiber accents. The very first unit of this series was already built and sold at the Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 19. It’s a one-off model boasting a matte gray exterior and red interior, so it’s pretty special.

All models will be equipped with standard safety gear like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection warning, auto emergency braking, active lane control, and auto high beams. Optionally, Toyota also offers adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and rear-end collision warning.

The 2020 Toyota Supra starts at $49,990 for the 3.0 variant or $53,990 for the 3.0 Premium. As for the Launch Edition, it will set you back from $55,250. And of course, you can shell out $2,460 more for a 12-speaker JBL sound system and navigation, or $1,195 for the optional safety features.