It was at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show that we first saw the Toyota FT-1 Concept as a preview to a front engine and rear wheel drive sports coupe. Toyota also stated that the FT-1 was inspired by iconic sports cars like the 2000GT, Supra, and MR-2. And now, almost five years after the FT-1, the Japanese carmaker will be bringing the new-gen Supra to the same stage. And here, we have the first official uncamouflaged images of the resurrected sports car leaked ahead of the 14 January debut.
The images you see here were released by Toyota Germany to a select few as a thank you note for joining the 'Toyota GR Supra waiting List'. We already saw the camouflaged prototype when it ran up the hill at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of speed. And Toyota has also revealed the engine note of the BMW-sourced engine in small teaser video a few days back.
Although the Supra was developed alongside the India-bound new-gen BMW Z4, both the cars will have a distinct personality, claims the carmakers. The Supra retains all the ostentatious design elements of the FT-1 to the extent that it appears Toyota hasn’t changed anything whatsoever on the concept to make it a production-ready model. The long hood with a sculpted fascia of the FT-1 has been carried forward. The shape of the headlamps and its design remains unchanged. The air vents on the fascia and on the side of the car, however, have undergone some changes.
The profile of the new Supra is the same as the FT-1 Concept that we have seen already. The double-bubble roof, however, needs a special mention as it adds a lot of character to this Japanese sports coupe. At the rear, the ducktail-type spoiler on the boot lid and the tail lamp design are carried over from the concept. Meanwhile, the aggressive diffuser is present with centre brake lights and dual circular exhaust tips on either side.
Under the long hood of the Toyota Supra is the same 3.0-litre straight-six which powers the Z4 M40i. However, power figures haven’t been divulged yet and we think it won’t be identical to the Bavarian roadster’s 380bhp. Transmission would be an eight-speed automatic transmission sourced from BMW but it might also offer a manual gearbox for select markets.
When it arrives next year, the Supra will lock horns with the likes of BMW M2, Mercedes-AMG GT, Jaguar F-Type, Porsche 718, and Audi TT apart from Alpine A10 and Nissan GT-R. Indian debut is uncertain at this moment.
