{"id":10952,"date":"2019-01-18T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-18T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/x.www.carsome.my\/news\/supra-car-returns-toyotas-legendary-supra-makes-a-comeback\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T17:36:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T09:36:02","slug":"supra-car-returns-toyotas-legendary-supra-makes-a-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carsome.my\/news\/item\/supra-car-returns-toyotas-legendary-supra-makes-a-comeback","title":{"rendered":"Supra-Car Returns: Toyota’s Legendary Supra Makes A Comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Supra was born from the emergence of the Toyota Celica in 1970. In 1978, efforts to go against Datsun\u2019s (Nissan) Z-car birthed the Celica XX. It featured a newer version of the famous in-line six-cylinder M engine seen in Toyota\u2019s revolutionary 2000 GT.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Toyota’s legendary 2000 GT.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although known in Japan as the Celica XX, the international market knew the car as the Toyota Celica Supra. During development, the brand sought help from Lotus Cars in the engineering side in exchange for components for Lotus\u2019 Excel.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"From above: A 1981 Toyota Celica Supra and the A60 Supra.<\/span><\/p>\n

During this production, the Celica Supra began with the A40\/A50 first generation that ran from 1978 to 1981, followed on with the A60 successor from 1982 to 1986 that was sportier in looks.<\/p>\n

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But it wasn\u2019t until the A70 that Toyota split the Celica and Supra into separate model lines, with the former converted to front wheel drive, while the Supra maintained its rear-wheel platform.<\/p>\n

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Despite the third generation Supra A70 setting off to a slow start, in 1987 the brand included a turbocharger into the last M series engine with the designation 7M-GTE that produced 230 hp. It was at this moment that the Supra nameplate added on a Turbo which further boosted popularity thanks to the power and position in the late 1980s.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Credit: Wheelsage.org<\/span><\/p>\n

Towards the end of the A70\u2019s model line, at the turn of the 1990s, the third generation Supra went on to be the best of what it could be \u2013 by having Toyota\u2019s all new flagship straight-six engine that brought together a whole new following, the 1JZ. At its peak, the A70 Supra bowed out with a 2.5 Twin Turbo R model that produced 276 hp.<\/p>\n

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1993 saw the launch of the successor, the A80 fourth generation Supra. Developed under the guidance by Isao Tsuzuki, chief engineer who also worked on the first Celica and the MR2, the A80 design moved away from the boxier shape of yesteryears Supras and was more aerodynamically efficient than ever \u2013 shaving off 100 kg in weight to the A70. Despite the ever growing fanbase for the Supra, Toyota did not realise that the A80\u2019s beating heart would go on to be a legend.<\/p>\n

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Nestled in the bonnet of the A80 is an engine that enthusiasts rave on till today, the 3.0-litre 2JZ straight-six that was offered in either naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged flavours with power figures between 220 hp and 326 hp.<\/p>\n

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But of both engine versions, the turbocharged 2JZ-GTE engine is the one with the glowing reputation. The reason behind its high praise is due to the fact that Toyota over-engineered the engine with robust materials that included cast iron, forged steel, and aluminium. This allowed tuners and enthusiasts to significantly up the power output by almost three times without the need to do significant engine work; and up to almost 10 times for those that did modify the engines.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Credit: Universal Pictures<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, the Supra\u2019s reputation only took superstardom in popular culture when it became the centrepiece in the 2001 film, The Fast and the Furious. The film provided a deeper look into the world of aftermarket tuned cars with a focus on the Japanese sports car market. In one of the most popular scenes, Brian O\u2019Conner (Paul Walker) drag races and leaves behind a Ferrari F355 Spider with a modified Supra A80.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Akio Toyoda, President Toyota Motor Corporation, and Dr Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since Toyota stopped production of the A80 in 2002, there was no word on the next generation Supra until in June 2012, when news broke of a finalised agreement between the brand\u2019s partnership with BMW on a future sports car.<\/p>\n

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Then in less than two years, Toyota showcased the FT-1 Concept at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show. While there was not much detail to go around, except for confirmation that it would be a combustion only engine without a hybrid powertrain, further spotting of the vehicle under heavy disguise testing at the N\u00fcrburgring and a debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed just last year has come down to the final reveal just early this week.<\/p>\n

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