The new Toyota Supra has been (anxiously) awaited since we got to know the Toyota FT1 concept in 2014. Four years later, and despite the spy photos of the model that reveal an advanced state of development, it wasn't this edition of the Geneva Motor Show that we stayed to get to know the brand's new sports car.
The concept presented, the Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept, however, reveals a lot of the future road model, but nothing has been advanced in terms of specifications.
We had the opportunity to speak with Tetsuya Tada, the person responsible for its development, who provided us with precious information on what to expect.
End of speculation
No more speculation about the engine of the new Toyota Supra. Tetsuya Tada confirmed to us, in statements to Razão Automóvel, the engine that will equip the future Supra:
I wanted to keep the essence of the Toyota Supra. And one of these «essences» passes through the in-line six-cylinder architecture engine.
We remind you that until now, everything that was known about the motorization of the fifth generation of the Supra was just speculation. Tada's confirmation by an in-line six-cylinder guarantees the permanence of one of the ingredients that have always been part of Supra, since the first generation launched in 1978, 40 years ago.
As for the gearbox, this person in charge preferred to continue hiding the game. But there are those who advance the adoption of a six-speed manual gearbox.
Beyond the engine...
But it wasn't just engines that we talked to Tetsuya Tada. We wanted to know how the process of developing the new Toyota Supra started:The process started with a survey of our Supra customers. We wanted to know what they most wanted. It was based on these testimonies that we started the process of developing the A90 generation.
Platform sharing with BMW
One of the most discussed issues about the new generation of Supra concerns the sharing of the platform with the future BMW Z4. Tetsuya Tada wanted to allay all fears.
We and BMW did the base development of the model completely separately. Component sharing is limited to the chassis, but everything else will be different. The new Toyota Supra will be a true Supra.
That said, you can expect a 50/50 weight distribution and low center gravity for the model — even lower than the Toyota GT86, which benefits from the opposing-cylinder engine.
After all, when does it arrive?
We still have to wait a little longer, but everything points to this year that we will discover the fifth generation of the Toyota Supra this year, with its commercialization starting towards the end of 2018 or beginning of 2019.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel , and follow the videos with the news, and the best of the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.