Tuesday 25th September 2018

Manual Supra could be on the way

Toyota has the hardware, and it works in right-hand drive - the campaign starts here!

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While it may be an ever dwindling appreciation, with affection for automatic gearboxes always on the rise, PistonHeads continues to fly the flag for the manual sports car. We're especially fond of a Japanese, manual sports car, in fact, as typically the shifts are short, precise and mechanical in a way that precious few rivals are - see the Mazda MX-5, Toyota GT86 and Honda Civic Type R for proof. The Japanese seem to care about the satisfaction of a tactile manual gearbox more than most.

Now it seems there could be another on the way, courtesy once more of Toyota and its new Supra. Thought it was going to be auto-only? Us too, although news has now emerged - via Car Advice in Australia - that the hardware exists for a manual, right-hand drive car.

It was confirmed by assistant chief engineer Masayuki Kai, who said: "We have developed it, yes, there is hardware ready. Right-hand drive? Yes, of course. It needs to be sold in Japan, which is a right-hand drive market". That said, the manual is not yet confirmed for production, Kai suggesting a decision on its viability was "depending on feedback from the market". The only powertrain announced thus far is the turbocharged straight-six with eight-speed ZF auto.

No doubt that will prove popular, the engine and gearbox already proven in BMWs and the Supra impressing in prototype form, but imagine what a manual could be like. A BMW straight-six with a Japanese manual gearbox in a rear-wheel drive sports car sounds pretty fabulous, doesn't it? Whichever way feedback can make it to Toyota, let's make it so - a manual Supra must return!

[Source: CarThrottle]

[wab172uk]

£50 that in the UK, it'll be Auto only.

[Krikkit]

wab172uk said:

£50 that in the UK, it'll be Auto only.

I'd be surprised if it's UK only on the proviso that they make a JDM manual - it's already RHD, so it costs virtually nothing to bring it to Europe in that config. They'll already have type-approved all the RHD components for EU anyway.

[kambites]

Krikkit said:

I'd be surprised if it's UK only on the proviso that they make a JDM manual - it's already RHD, so it costs virtually nothing to bring it to Europe in that config. They'll already have type-approved all the RHD components for EU anyway.

The question will be whether it's worth getting the manual type-approved for European sale at all. If they do, we should get it here (Brexit silliness notwithstanding).

[Macboy]

Has there EVER been a more drawn out and less interesting pre-launch campaign for a car than this? I mean, how many people have been waiting for a new Supra? It's not like the last one was a roaring sales success or even that highly regarded except for a few drainpipe exhaust toting "enthusiasts". It's certainly achieved a phenomenal amount of coverage but really, who actually cares?

[underphil]

I thought it had already been confirmed that there would be no manual

[Bennet]

Macboy said:

... or even that highly regarded ...

I don't remember ever reading anything other than positive reviews of the last Supra, and I doubt many people on Pistonheads would be complaining if one fell in to their hands.

[swisstoni]

The concept really upped the anticipation I would think. Sadly the usual has happened and the actual car looks like a bad drawing of it.

[MCBrowncoat]

This is really slowly starting to look better and better every time I see it. I still don't like the front area (where the bottom lip comes up under the numberplate) but it looks a lot less dumpy and with a much more satisfying stance than it used to.

[Resolutionary]

Macboy said:

Has there EVER been a more drawn out and less interesting pre-launch campaign for a car than this? I mean, how many people have been waiting for a new Supra? It's not like the last one was a roaring sales success or even that highly regarded except for a few drainpipe exhaust toting "enthusiasts". It's certainly achieved a phenomenal amount of coverage but really, who actually cares?

I totally agree about this whole thing being drawn out - kinda reminds me of the new TVR (which has since submerged again I might add).

But let's not be facetious - the Supra Mk4 in particular was highly regarded at the time, and has since become a coveted, almost legendary vehicle - yes 'enthusiasts' / 'boy racers' (delete as appropriate to your stance) have pushed this interest up dramatically with F&F films spurring things on, but that shouldn't be brushed aside given the car in question. There are undoubtedly a great many who would invest in one with a £100k garage scenario - myself, a German car buyer, included.

I'm not sure I could say the same about this upcoming one though. I feel that the manufacturer drip-feed like we've seen here just makes the release a whole lot of tedious.

[3795mpower]

Let’s be honest now, if it were even to happen...it’s not going to
Be a Japanese gearbox attached to a B58 is it ?
Especially when Bmw already have the manual gearbox/flywheel/clutch on
The shelf and fit it to 240i/140i cars currently produced.

Bit of romantic license going on there......

[cvega]

blah blah blah new z4 with toyota badge prepare to be dissapointed.

[bozzy.]

The new Supra has a lot to live up to as the old car arguably holds “legendary” status. I’m sure once the new one has been out for a few years it will start to gain a bit more respect than it currently seems to be receiving. I’m actually quite excited to see what the Japanese tuning industry can do with it too.

[court]

3795mpower said:

Let’s be honest now, if it were even to happen...it’s not going to
Be a Japanese gearbox attached to a B58 is it ?
Especially when Bmw already have the manual gearbox/flywheel/clutch on
The shelf and fit it to 240i/140i cars currently produced.

Bit of romantic license going on there......

This. If it actually did happen I can tell you for sure it'll be a BMW spec ZF GS6-45BZ like what's installed in all other B58 engined BMWs.

[danllama]

Macboy said:

Has there EVER been a more drawn out and less interesting pre-launch campaign for a car than this? I mean, how many people have been waiting for a new Supra? It's not like the last one was a roaring sales success or even that highly regarded except for a few drainpipe exhaust toting "enthusiasts". It's certainly achieved a phenomenal amount of coverage but really, who actually cares?

Sometimes, when looking through pistonheads posts, I wonder if we should have some sort of test or quiz, before people are allowed to join.

[Havard22]

danllama said:

Sometimes, when looking through pistonheads posts, I wonder if we should have some sort of test or quiz, before people are allowed to join.

This...!! How can anyone say that original Supra was anything other than stunning and has stood the test of time well. Solidly built cars, with the ability to modify body wise and engine wise with the 2JZ being almost unrivalled.

As an owner of two MKIV Supras in my time, I would seriously consider buying the MK V as a manual. However, if this was "auto" only, I will go down the Cayman / 911 / F-type route for similar money. Not many post 2012, 3 litre cars with manual gearboxes now.

Let's hope there is enough interest in a manual from the masses.

[Mackofthejungle]

Havard22 said:

danllama said:

Sometimes, when looking through pistonheads posts, I wonder if we should have some sort of test or quiz, before people are allowed to join.

This...!! How can anyone say that original Supra was anything other than stunning and has stood the test of time well. Solidly built cars, with the ability to modify body wise and engine wise with the 2JZ being almost unrivalled.

As an owner of two MKIV Supras in my time, I would seriously consider buying the MK V as a manual. However, if this was "auto" only, I will go down the Cayman / 911 / F-type route for similar money. Not many post 2012, 3 litre cars with manual gearboxes now.

Let's hope there is enough interest in a manual from the masses.

It was a cruiser for retirees!! It wasn't a sports car! It wasn't highly regarded when new! It was one of many heavy, comfortable Japanese coupes on sale in the 90s. The fast and the furious films are the sole reason for its status.

[dunnoreally]

Mackofthejungle said:

The fast and the furious films are the sole reason for its status.

That's not true at all... You've got to give Gran Turismo some credit!

OK, I'm joking. Never sat in one, but I'm sure they're lovely.

[j_s14a]

Mackofthejungle said:

It was a cruiser for retirees!! It wasn't a sports car! It wasn't highly regarded when new! It was one of many heavy, comfortable Japanese coupes on sale in the 90s. The fast and the furious films are the sole reason for its status.

The non turbo mk3 was a cruiser for retirees. The MK4 when launched was very popular with lottery winners. It wasn't, and isn't a sports car, it is a very capable sporty GT, which is almost peerless in its tuning potential, while still being capable for Toyota reliability and usability. They are incredibly over engineered cars, something the bean counters would never allow today, and this alone deserves respect from anyone claiming to be a car enthusiast.

Unfortunately, they are becoming very expensive, and some of the parts costs now are eye watering. A low mileage example sold in the US for over $140k USD last week.

[Mike335i]

court said:

3795mpower said:

Let’s be honest now, if it were even to happen...it’s not going to
Be a Japanese gearbox attached to a B58 is it ?
Especially when Bmw already have the manual gearbox/flywheel/clutch on
The shelf and fit it to 240i/140i cars currently produced.

Bit of romantic license going on there......

This. If it actually did happen I can tell you for sure it'll be a BMW spec ZF GS6-45BZ like what's installed in all other B58 engined BMWs.

But they may tweak or rework the box to make it more palatable to Japanese tastes, although the 45BZ is a decent box, it was the older boxes like the 53BZ that were not as highly regarded.

[delta0]

Is this a 2+2? The original FT-1 concept was.