The current Toyota Supra is a good sports car but its use of a BMW powertrain has long rubbed some enthusiasts the wrong way. However, the Supra could win over some detractors if rumors about a manual version prove to be true. To the surprise of many, Toyota decided to launch the new Supra exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission despite acknowledging before the car’s unveiling that it had developed a manual version. A new report now claims that the car manufacturer has given the green light to the manual Supra and that it could launch this year.
Speaking with The Drive, an unnamed Toyota
dealership source apparently said that the car is “confirmed”. This follows on
from a report in late 2021 that suggested Toyota’s plan was to initially only
offer the entry-level 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model with a
six-speed but that the decision has since been made to instead offer it for the
flagship 3.0-liter turbo-six. If true, a manual version of the Toyota 3.0 could
serve as the perfect rival to the forthcoming Nissan Z which will be offered
with both a Mercedes-sourced automatic transmission and the same six-speed
manual as the 370Z.
As if rumors about a manual Supra weren’t
enough to get you excited, there is also talk about the car manufacturer
reportedly readying a high-performance GRMN variant that could borrow the
3.0-liter twin-turbo S58 inline-six of the BMW M3, where it produces 473 hp and 550 Nm of torque in the standard version and 503 hp and 649 Nm of torque in the Competition.
