Sports car gets manual
Sports-car enthusiasts will be pleased to know the 2022 GR Supra will come with a manual transmission.
Since the nameplate was launched in 2019, there have been demands for a variant with a gear stick.
Toyota has answered that call and has started producing a six-speed manual GR Supra, which should be available in New Zealand later this year.
The 2022 GR Supra has new performance features born from Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) technology.
The model has been continuously improved since its launch by the motorsport division, including a major power upgrade to the inline six-cylinder engine in 2021. The 2022 GR Supra will bring two transmission options, extra colours and a new wheel design.
Steve Prangnell, Toyota NZ’s general manager of new vehicles and product planning, says the GR Supra already has incredible power and torque, and the addition of a manual transmission further enhances it as a key competitor in the high-performance sports-car segment.
“Toyota is living up to the promise to make its cars even better with this powertrain change. By allowing the driver to interact with the car and select the optimal gear ratio, the GR Supra driver will enjoy the true delights of a manual, rear-wheel-drive sports car.
“Changing gears on a twisty Kiwi road is going to be a massive buzz in the manual Supra. TGR continues to inject energy fun, and adrenalin into our sports cars.”
The manual GR Supra has a six-speed manual transmission capable of maximising the performance of the high-output 285kW inline six-cylinder. A bonus of the manual is that it weighs 18kg less than the automatic transmission to enhance its dynamics.
A gear-shift assistant (GSA) detects the driver’s shifting and synchronises the engine speed with the gear, helping to stabilise the vehicle and assist smooth shifting. When the drive mode is set to sport, the GSA can be turned off – it is always on during normal drive mode.
Andrew Davis, Toyota NZ’s general manager of motorsport, says the investment and commitment to TGR is now delivering in terms of great vehicles and in motorsport with the GR series in New Zealand.
He adds: “The GR Supra is the most powerful model in our growing range of new-generation GR sports cars. With a manual transmission, it joins the GR Yaris and soon-to-arrive GR Corolla in being as driver-focused and rewarding as possible.”
