Monday 4th December 2023

Toyota GR Supra gets motorsport makeover for Essen

Toyota Germany celebrates GT4 car with 'pepped up' Tribute Edition showroom model

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Never let it be said that Toyota isn't doing all they can for the front-engined, rear-drive sports car. Not content with bringing back the Supra from the dead, it also created a six-speed manual gearbox for it. If the rumours are true, a GRMN track star is on the way as well. On top of a race car for the really keen. In a world where it felt like a new Supra could have been a plug-in SUV, that Toyota gave it a proper go should be applauded. 

This one is the GR Supra GT4 100th Edition Tribute; like the race equivalent, it marks 100 GT4s having been built, but is a road legal model. Moreover, it’s been modified by Toyota Germany with accessories available from GR Centres in Europe, hopefully encouraging existing owners or prospective buyers to do the same. The wrap isn’t a dealer-fit extra, just in case you were wondering, instead completed by eighteleven design in Germany. Toyota isn't quite that committed to the cause. 

Upgrades for this manual Supra shown at the Essen show include Bilstein Evo T1 suspension, promising ‘the perfect balance of sportiness and comfort in everyday life’. The coilovers offer ten clicks of adjustment for both compression and rebound, with up to 35mm of ride height lowering possible as well. The Protrack One wheels are said to be some of the lightest cast rims available, which should further benefit ride and handling. They’re shod in a new Yokohama Advan Neova AD09 tyre, further ramping up the road racer vibe. There’s a Milltek exhaust for more sound from the straight six, and the carbon bits - mirror caps, rear wing, front splitter - are from AC Schnitzer. Because BMW is never far from a Toyota Supra story.

Despite the fact that just 100 of these GT4s will be made, and that seemingly anything limited run with a manual gearbox can command a huge premium these days, there’s not a huge price to pay for the 100th Edition Tribute. In Germany it’ll cost €68,900, or just €2,450 more than a standard manual. And it won’t even come with the wrap, which is probably an advantage. Don’t be surprised if they’re all spoken for pretty soon; do be surprised if something similar happens here. But we can hope. And don’t forget that GRMN…

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• Incoming Supra GRMN takes to the Nurburgring
• Toyota GR Supra MT vs. Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0

 

[HardMiles]

I've had nicer looking bowel movements...

[Jon_S_Rally]

Obviously the wrap on the media car is a bit minging, but sounds like a nice set of upgrades otherwise. Still not totally convinced by the front-end styling of the Supra, but there we are.

Just a shame that Toyota and others are offering all these interesting dealer-fit upgrades, but so much of it is not coming to the UK.

[Motormouth88]

Toyota, please redesign the supra as soon as possible, thanks

[Sion111R]

I like the look of the Supra. To me it’s a positive that you look at it and go - yep, that’s Japanese. Far better than a design which has been through so many design houses and countries that it ends up looking like everything else. I really like the non wrapped red one in the photo.

[SuperPav]

I’m confused. I’m assuming not all the upgrades on that car is included in the sub 70k eur price, otherwise it’s a bargain.

Which bits come in the car and which are accessories? And how much do the accessories cost?

[ChrisCh86]

If those parts are all included, it's great value for modifications which should improve the car (albeit only slightly).

Should look quite good without the motorsport wrap too, I like the look of the Supra and I've even gotten over the fact that it's largely a BMW, as the manual gearbox is Supra specific, it looks better than a BMW, and the engine is a good one.

[ecsrobin]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Just a shame that Toyota and others are offering all these interesting dealer-fit upgrades, but so much of it is not coming to the UK.

This. There’s some great parts for the Yaris that Toyota sell in Japan, why they don’t offer them in the UK (or anywhere else) is crazy as it’s a licence to print money.

[Red6]

Bloody hell. That is Hotwheels messy.

[Bakazan]

I wonder why they've done the photo shoot in such a poorly lit environment?

[Marc H]

Bakazan said:

I wonder why they've done the photo shoot in such a poorly lit environment?

Saving energy on the lights?

[sege]

"Never let it be said that Toyota isn't doing all they can for the front-engined, rear-drive sports car. "

I dunno, I think they could do more. How about making one? instead of putting body kits on BMWs or a T badge on a Subaru?

[200Plus Club]

Incredibly bad upgrade visually on an already very ugly car. Horrendous.

[nismo48]

HardMiles said:

I've had nicer looking bowel movements...

it's a bit garish

[Jon_S_Rally]

It's a set of wheels, a splitter and a rear wing, not sure it counts as "garish" or "incredibly bad"

[BrettMRC]

They should have gone a bit larger on the spoiler.