Beginning in 1978, the Toyota Motor Corporation produced the Toyota Supra, also known as the Toyota Spura in Japanese and Hepburn. The Latin prefix supra, which means “above,” “to transcend,” or “go beyond,” is the source of the name “supra.” [3]
The first four Supra models were built between 1978 and 2002. Since March 2019, the fifth generation has been produced, and it debuted in May 2019. [4] The original Supra’s style was based on the Toyota Celica, but it was also wider and longer. [5] Beginning in the middle of 1986, the A70 Supra split off from the Celica as a standalone model. Toyota, in turn, discontinued using the prefix Celica and changed the name of the vehicle to Supra. [6] Due to their names’ resemblance and shared history, the Celica and Supra are commonly confused with one another. The Tahara facility in Tahara, Aichi, produced the first, second, and third generations of the Supra, while the Motomachi plant in Toyota City produced the fourth. In Graz, Austria, Magna Steyr assembles the fifth-generation Supra alongside the G29 BMW Z4.
Due to an inline-6 architecture, the Supra also owes a lot of its DNA to the 2000GT. The M engine from the Crown and 2000GT was made available for the first three generations. Additionally comparable were interior design features and the chassis code “A”.
Toyota gave the Supra its own logo in addition to the moniker. It was based on the original Celica logo, except that blue was used in place of orange. Before the A70 Supra was unveiled in January 1986, this logo was in use. The new logo was the same size, but it did not have the dragon motif. It had orange letters on a red background. Up until 1991, when Toyota moved to its current oval business emblem, that logo was affixed to Supras. (Regardless of color, the dragon logo was a Celica logo. Due to the fact that the first two generations of the Supra were legally Toyota Celicas, it was present on them. The Celica line had a dragon logo until it was likewise retired.) [Reference needed]
Toyota stopped selling the fourth-generation Supra in the United States in 1998.
[6] The fourth generation of the Supra’s production for international markets came to an end in 2002.
The fifth version of the Supra, which was jointly developed with the G29 Z4, was released in January 2019.
[7]
In This Article...
When did the Toyota Supra make its debut?
Road-testers were quickly inventing new epithets as the fourth-generation Supra thrashed ‘Top Gun’ rivals that had been such a source for concern only a few years earlier shortly after its June 1993 US premiere. Even the 3.6-liter Porsche 911 Turbo was unable to compete with it, and one Australian magazine put the Supra in an absurd comparison with the Aston Martin DB7, which it ultimately defeated on a level playing field.
Plaudits kept coming in after the UK press got their hands on the new Supra, which was only offered in Europe in turbo form. The new 2JZ-GTE engine was praised for its flexibility, offering 90% of peak torque from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm before being cruelly cut short at 156 mph, the car’s aerodynamically enhanced stability making it feel like it was traveling at half that speed. It was marginally faster than the contemporaneous ST185 Celica GT-Four. The 2JZ engine was later tuned by enthusiasts in the aftermarket, revealing it to be such an engineering masterpiece that fully modified units could produce up to 2041bhp!
The Supra MK4’s age is how old?
The MK4 Toyota Supra, which debuted in 1993, would go on to have a production run that lasted until 2002. But neither Americans nor Canadians took use of it for very long. In 1996, the model was taken from the Canadian market, but due to incredibly poor sales, manufacture was continued there for an additional two years.
Although the model was still being built for the Japanese market, it was totally stopped in 2002 since it did not meet Japan’s new fuel-efficiency standards.
When was the last Toyota Supra produced?
Japan’s automakers were creating some of the most thrilling vehicles ever created at the start of the 1990s. The Acura NSX provided mid-engined dynamics and weight savings from all aluminum. The Mazda RX-7’s twin turbo engines were brutal and merciless. Technology was jammed into the Mitsubishi 3000GT. The MkIV Supra, too? Toyota dropped the mic at that point.
The MkIV Supra Turbo was released in 1993 and featured a 320 horsepower twin-turbo straight-six engine, an optional Getrag six-speed gearbox, and was around 200 pounds lighter than the third-generation model. During testing, it was able to race to 60 mph in five seconds or less, reach nearly 1g on the skidpad, and go at 66 mph in the slalom.
The 2JZ-GTE engine, which had twin overhead cams in an aluminum head and a cast-iron block, was the brains of this beast. This time, Toyota’s engineers overengineered the motor to the point where it can be virtually doubled in output by simply adding additional fuel and boost.
Even though it was still more of a grand tourer than a true sports car, the Supra had all the performance you could ask for. The top-of-the-line Turbo vehicles, however, were also fairly dear, which made them uncommon when new and, as a result, expensive now. The “more than you can afford, pal shoe is now off.
The natively aspirated MkIV Supra is still extremely desired even though it isn’t quite the powerhouse that a Turbo is. A reliable 220 horsepower is available.
- Models for the US market are more potent. The Supras that are marketed outside of Japan have about forty more horsepower than the JDM models thanks to larger turbochargers and stock injectors. Of course, both still have access to a lot of power.
- Early exit from the U.S. market for the Supra. Although the Supra wasn’t marketed in the United States after 1998, it was still available in Japan until 2002. If you’re from Canada, you could have trouble finding a Supra because they weren’t available there until 1996. Sorry.
- Nearly everything is overengineered, but look out for red flags. The Turbo versions’ six-speed Getrag transmission and rear differential are especially robust and ought to hold up well. Shifting from reverse to first frequently results in a clunk, which is expected. Keep an eye out for whining while in authority.
- Changes are often. Overboosted Supras are more common than not, and not all of the wrenches have been turned by experts. Keep an eye out for compromises.
Of note:
- 1995 A Supra raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in accordance with Japanese Grand Touring Racing specifications, placing 14th. Strangely, it had a 2.1-liter, four-cylinder engine that had been tuned to 650 horsepower instead of the inline-six that it had previously had.
- 1997
- A Supra Turbo evaluated by Car and Driver was able to stop from 70 mph in 149 feet. This held the record for the magazine’s lowest stopping distance for seven years until a Porsche Carrera GT narrowly beat it in 2004 by 4 feet.
- 1998
- The Supra Turbo wasn’t offered in states with CARB emissions rules during its final year of sales in the United States.
- 2001
- The first Fast & Furious Supra was the genuine article. It belonged to Craig Lieberman, the technical director of the movie, and was equipped with a single T-66 turbo upgrade, 650cc injectors, and a power output of about 550hp.
- 2007
- The golden Top Secret Supra designed by Kazuhiko “Smoky Nagata is arguably the wildest street Supra of all time. Unusually, it has a V-12 engine from a Toyota Century limousine installed, together with two turbochargers, for a total output of more than 1000 hp.
What’s the name of the old Supra?
Over 40 years ago, the Toyota Supra entered the lexicon of the automobile industry. Its origins can be found in the first Toyota Celica Supra from 1979; the middle name alludes to the fact that it shared a chassis with the company’s smaller Celica sports coupe. In the 1980s, the two cars finally parted ways, with the six-cylinder Supra sports coupe completely shedding the Celica moniker. Toyota’s powerful Supra underwent four versions before its sales began to drop in the late 1990s. As a result, Toyota removed the vehicle from the U.S. market in 1998. (Sales persisted in Japan at the start of the twenty-first century.) Despite consumers not backing it with their money, the Supra became a legend, opening the door for a redux two decades later. In 2020, Toyota will release a new vehicle that will finally fill the Supra-sized hole in our hearts. It has since received our 10Best award and even earned a seat in our fleet of long-term test vehicles. Do you need a reminder of what first made the Supra so outstanding? For a quick history lesson, scroll through; to learn more about each generation, click on the photographs.
Toyota refers to its six-cylinder coupe under the Celica Supra appellation for the first two editions of the Supra. The Supra was essentially a six-cylinder Celica in its early years. Toyota lengthened the wheelbase by 5.1 inches and altered the front end of the Celica to fit the larger Supra engine inside the smaller car.
Even though the first-generation Celica Supra had decent power and contemporary conveniences, it hadn’t yet developed into a true sports car. Fortunately, Toyota gave the second-generation Supra the driving characteristics that would enable it to win two of our 10Best Cars titles (one in 1983 and another in 1984). We also cherished our extended 1983 example.
The third-generation Supra, which is marketed as a 1986.5 model year vehicle, formally drops the Celica moniker. No longer connected are the two vehicles While the Supra maintains rear-wheel drive, the smaller four-cylinder Celica switches to a front-wheel-drive basis for 1986. The most recent Supra has a new 3.0-liter inline-six with 200 horsepower that is naturally aspirated, albeit being heavier than its predecessor.
Toyota unveils a new, more powerful Supra Turbo model for 1987. You didn’t see that coming, but there’s a turbocharger in there, so thanks for that. 230 horsepower and 246 lb-ft of torque are generated by the straight-six engine of the Supra Turbo, an increase of 30 horses and 61 lb-ft. A five-speed manual Supra Turbo that we test accelerates to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, 1.6 seconds faster than the naturally aspirated Supra, thanks to the extra power.
But it’s not until the 1993 model year that the Toyota Supra really starts to shine. The Mark 4 Supra features swoopy styling that sets it apart from all previous Toyota models because it was completely redesigned.
Forced induction is still an option. The Supra Turbo adds extra 100 horsepower to the normal Supra’s 220-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-six, bringing the combined output to 320. A six-speed manual Supra Turbo in our tests reaches 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and the quarter-mile line at 106 mph in 13.8 seconds. Both numbers surpass those reported by the modern sports cars it defeated in our comparative test in September 1993, including the Chevrolet Corvette, Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, Nissan 300ZX Turbo, and Porsche 968. (In March of that year, we had managed to accelerate a particularly nimble Supra Turbo to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and complete the quarter-mile at 109 mph in 13.1 seconds.) Later, a 1994 Turbo we test accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.
Unfortunately, the BMW M3 overtakes the Supra Turbo in August 1997 to claim the title of comparison-test king. The Supra Turbo demonstrates dynamics that continue to greatly amaze us despite finishing third (the then-new 1997 Chevrolet Corvette wins silver), and only two points separate the Toyota from the BMW in our scoring. Regrettably, manufacturing price reductions and media acclaim failed to revive the Supra’s stagnant sales. 1998 marks the last year that Toyota sells the Supra in the United States.
Toyota unveils a new sports car concept in Detroit seven years after revealing the FT-HS design exercise. The low-slung concept car, this time known as the FT-1, features slinky coupe style that appeals to admirers. Could this be the last sign of the Supra?
The most common critique of the new Supra at the time of its release was that it didn’t resemble the previous model. In order to determine whether that was indeed a terrible thing, we wanted to quantify why. In particular, only one of these Supras reached our list of the 10 Best. We challenged the two in Southern California after finding a 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo with just 12,800 miles that was fully original. After completing our comparison test, we discovered that even though the two share some genetic traits, the new Supra is more than just a lighter, more potent version of its predecessor.
The Z4 M40i’s 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 382-hp turbocharger, which is 47 horsepower more powerful than the previous engine, will be used in the 2021 Supra. In comparison, the increased power only costs 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the interstate. Toyota will now provide a 255-hp turbo four-cylinder option in the United States in addition to the upgraded engine, which was already offered in Europe and Japan.
Are Supras uncommon?
The Toyota Supra has been making news more frequently recently despite being off the market in the United States for 20 years. And for good reason: Toyota has spent the last five years igniting enthusiasts’ fervor for its future fifth-generation model, which will be unveiled at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show and will go on sale in 2019. In addition, collectors are starting to drive up prices on clean versions from the 1990s.
The Supra, often thought of as little more than a Celica coupe with more power, has recently found itself in the spotlight, and not in a good manner.
Generation Xers, millennials, and die-hard fans who grew up idolizing the automobile, in particular, have fallen in love with Toyota’s fourth-generation A80 Supra, which was produced from 1993 to 1998.
Here is a glance at the present activities of the tenacious Supra as well as a glimpse at its history.
Toyota Supra Sells for $121K
A 1994 Toyota Supra manual twin-turbo that was in brand-new, factory-condition, recently for an astounding $121,000 at auction. Although that price is unlikely to become the standard, it does firmly establish the Supra as a six-figure car. Why then did this specific Supra command such a premium price?
For starters, it’s a vintage collectible that still contains all of its original parts. This Supra has all the original equipment, right down to the cassette tape/CD player, including the distinctive rear spoiler, its original aluminum alloy wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, and the mint tan leather seats. Additionally, it has only 7,000 kilometers on it, which is unusual for a car this old. The car’s rarity is increased by the fact that it was also unmodified; Supras from this generation were frequently modified and customized, making the unaltered versions difficult to find.
The 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 320 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque in this Supra, along with a six-speed manual transmission, make up its very desirable drivetrain configuration. This Supra also has nostalgically appealing styling. The majority of cars in this generation came with a less powerful base inline six-cylinder engine and either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission.
The high price is just a result of supply and demand, to sum up. For an unique vehicle like this one, there is a long runway of development potential, even though $121,000 sounds like a lot to pay for a car. Younger collectors who admire these models will eventually have larger money for the ideal automobile they dreamed of as children, while Supras as spotless as this one will only become more rare. Prices can rise significantly when there is a large supply gap and a high demand.
The Supra is Back for 2020
For the first time since the last Toyota Supra was marketed in the United States in 1998, the Supra made a reappearance. A fifth-generation Supra, the A90, was debuted at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which took place in Detroit from January 14 to 27. The A90 was mostly developed by BMW and uses a BMW motor and many other components from the new Z4. Since this is the first new Supra to be sold in well over 20 years, excitement is understandably strong.
It has an inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine with 335 horsepower, a rear-wheel drive system, and an eight-speed automated transmission. It promotes aerodynamic balance with a low center of gravity and a 50-50 weight distribution. The 2020 Supra will be offered in two grades, 3.0 and 3.0 Premium, as well as a “Launch Edition,” and will be on sale in the summer of 2019. Renaissance Red 2.0, Nitro Yellow, and Downshift Blue will all be colors.