Wednesday 12th December 2018

Toyota Supra production model leaks (again)

Four weeks before it's officially shown in Detroit, the front end of Toyota's new sports car spills onto the internet

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One month before the Toyota Supra is officially unveiled at the Detroit motor show, and guess what... yep, it's leaked out. Classic. An image posted on a Supra enthusiast forum shows the car's front end completely uncovered in what appears to be the trailer it is being transported in. Course, Toyota has not commented on the image, but it's very obviously the Supra we've seen only in disguise so far.

Not much has changed from the prototype versions, which is of little surprise considering the proximity of its launch. Many of the aggressive design features first shown on the FT-1 concept back in 2014 - like that prominent front bumper, sleek headlights and that swooping bonnet - are retained on the front of the finished car. It looks decidedly racier than the more subtle Porsche 718 Cayman and much more youthful than its brother-from-another-mother, the BMW Z4. Good work, Toyota.

When it comes to the oily bits, we already know what to expect thanks to our prototype drive. The car will get a BMW-sourced turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six with around 340hp, leaving it well placed to hit 62mph in about 4.8 seconds - and slapping it smack bang in 718 Cayman territory. It'll be a rear-driver, using an eight-speed ZF auto gearbox. All in, it's predicted to weigh about 1,500kg.

Of course, there's a chance we'll also be told about the other engines set to join the range in Detroit. A smaller capacity four-cylinder is likely (also from BMW) but earlier rumours of a hybrid version have so far stalled. More importantly, a manual is still in the cards. Although we'd expect Toyota to hold launching that for at least a few months; the auto will likely be the bigger seller globally so it takes precedence.

Anyway, that's all to come. Between now and the car's January reveal we can fill a whole Christmas with anticipation. Or maybe that should be 'refill' given the seven years that have elapsed between now and the start of the 'new Supra' conversation on PH...

[Peanus]

So ugly a drive through a Halfords store will improve it aesthetically.

[redroadster]

I like looks obviously personal choice ,but really want to know price sounds like it handles well and pretty sure performance will be strong with tuning easily uprated with turbo engine.

[J4CKO]

Quite like it, though the front sort of puts me in mind of a Seat Leon Mk2 upside down.

[fernando the frog]

anyone think it'd look better with the lower bit all black like this?

[Ultrafunkula]

Looks better from the back than the front, but I'm liking it.

[WCZ]

no ty

[Jonesy23]

There isn't an angle it looks good from. The Z4 isn't a looker either but it's better than this version.

[matfitzpatrick]

I was hopeful it’d look more like the FT-1. They seem to have toned down the aggression quite a lot and made it more ‘generic’ in its look.

[Macboy]

90s Z3 at the front, 2000s Z4 coupe at the back. What a total mess.

[GingerPixel]

The headlamps could do with being 10% smaller, as its eyes are a little close together but generally I like it. Should come with TE37s as standard.

[ahghafoor]

Aaah it looks so sad

[thecremeegg]

Looks good to me!

[vz-r_dave]

Peanus said:

So ugly a drive through a Halfords store will improve it aesthetically.

Coming from a 1 series owner..... PH jokers

[TwinExit]

All these negatives are a result from the decision to platform share with a BMW Z4 to save a few pennies.

The more 'teaser/leaked' photos I see, the more it appears Toyota are only interested in cashing in on a perceive cult rather than disrupting the market with a very capable GT sports car.

[HumanSteamroller]

I like it.

[Grrbang]

I don't think looks are the deal-breaker for Supra lovers. There were better looking cars than the Mk IV, and the new headlamps are a bit similar.

Will you get turbo noise?

Is there a big, slightly noisy single bore exhaust?

Does the boost surge at high RPMs?

How much power can the BMW engine and transmission handle?

Can you choose JDM style wheels?

Otherwise its just a clone of many other cars out there.

[dxg]

I think it looks absolutely awesome!!

(Where does the number plate go?)

[wab172uk]

Crazy that when you read 340BHP, you thick "Is that it?"

Another bloody Auto only car

[Chestrockwell]

I actually really like this, I like the idea and would possibly buy one in the future however, I can’t help but think 340 bhp is too low, the most powerful Toyota you can buy today is the GT86 and the rest are FWD CVT Hybrids, I wish they went a bit mental and shook up the sports car sector like Nissan did with the GTR

[toppstuff]

Take a chainsaw to the front wings, cut some slots and it starts to look like a Sagaris.