Toyota reveals all-new Supra
Toyota has premiered its all-new Supra at this year's North American International Auto Show. The new Supra is the first global model of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s GR sports car series and is set to launch in New Zealand later this year.
"The revitalisation of the iconic Supra name and spirit is very exciting for Toyota as a brand,” says Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand general manager of product planning and new vehicles.
“As the halo model for Toyota sports cars, Supra points to a new-generation of driver-focused vehicles that will offer dynamic styling and faithful handling, even at the limits of its performance.”
Lala says that the Supra is already gaining interest here in New Zealand.
“Without a doubt, this will be a must-have collector’s sports car, and we are receiving serious interest from customers already,” said Lala.
“This has been a highly anticipated vehicle in the Toyota line-up and we can’t wait to see it when it launches here later on this year.”
The all-new fifth-generation Supra marks the end of a 17-year hiatus since the conclusion of production of the previous generation in 2002.
Ever since the Supra’s inception in 1978, all generations have been front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles powered by an inline six-cylinder engine. The latest rendition is no exception.
To achieve excellent handling and a stable cornering stance, the three elements of wheelbase, tread, and centre of gravity were positioned as the most important factors in pursuing the ideal conception of a pure sports car.
Being straightforward about the model being a two-seater, at 2,470 mm, its wheelbase is 100 mm shorter than that of the '86.
The tradition of an inline, six-cylinder engine found in successive generations of the Supra is carried on in the form of a 3.0-litre, inline-6, twin-scroll turbocharged engine. Maximum torque of 500 Nm is produced at a low engine revolution of 1,600 rpm.
With a skeletal structure which consists of both aluminium and steel, and by pursuing ways to increase bonding strength among materials of differing composition, body rigidity up to 2.5 times higher than that of the '86 was achieved.
