Growing up in the 80s as a car-obsessed kid, the Toyota Supra was an icon. I vividly remember one in my neighborhood with the pop-up headlights, white-lettered tires, and the hatchback with the louvers. It was a rare 80s-import that garnered attention. Fast-forward to the 90s and it became even more sleek with a smooth profile, a big spoiler on the back, and a higher price tag. And then the Fast & Furious movie franchise happened further making the Supra an enthusiast icon. The name dates back to 1978 in Japan and was synonymous with Japanese sports cars until production ceased in 2002. It made its triumphant return in 2019 with the help of a shared BMW platform and a 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine. Despite sharing some BMW parts and powertrains under its skin, the Supra is uniquely Toyota in its design and it is captivating. It also lost its rear seats and manual transmission along the way as it is now offered exclusively as a two-seat automatic sports car with a hard roof.
New for 2021, the GR (Gazoo Racing) Supra 3.0 has added more power to the inline-six which now delivers 382 horsepower (47 HP increase) and 368 lb-ft of torque. Also new is the first ever 4-cylinder, known as the Supra 2.0, that offers something in between the Toyota 86 and GR Supra 3.0. The Supra 2.0 delivers 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque and Toyota estimates a 0-60 time of 5.0 seconds. At 3,181 pounds, it is more than 200 pounds lighter than the 3.0 but still maintains a near perfect weight distribution. A few notable differences outside of the powertrain include smaller front brake rotors with single-piston calipers, a four-speaker audio system, manually adjusted seats, and the lack of an active differential and adaptive suspension. Prices for the GR Supra 2.0 start at $42,990 while the GR Supra 3.0 start at $50,990.
Pre-pandemic times I spent time in the initial GR Supra 3.0 on the track at Autobahn Country Club and was impressed by its handling around the bends, quick acceleration, and nimble steering... and that was before Toyota gave it an increase in horsepower so I imagine it's even more fun for 2021. More recently though, I drove the new GR Supra 2.0 for a week in everyday life. Many will balk at the concept of a Supra with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine but I will say that not much fun is lost in this variation. The turbo-four shares much of its technology with the 3.0L inline-six including the same 8-speed automatic transmission (of course a manual would be preferred), direct fuel injection, and a twin-scroll turbo. This means that despite its lower overall horsepower of 255, the driving dynamics are quite similar. Driving a lightweight rear-wheel drive car such as this is still loads of fun. The car handles like a race car in and out of traffic with tight steering and a nice connection to the road. As a commuter car it certainly makes the drive to work more thrilling. The 2.0 is intended to be more basic so while it may not have all of the same technology of the 3.0, it's the perfect base vehicle for an enthusiast who wants to customize it and build up their own.
The Supra comes with a 13.7 gallon fuel tank that offered up a range of 384 miles. EPA fuel economy for the 2.0 model estimates a combined rating of 27 MPG or 24 City / 32 Highway. After a week of suburban driving, I averaged 25 MPG. Premium fuel is recommended for the Supra models.
Aesthetically, the GR Supra is captivating and evoked head turns everywhere we drove. It's a small two-seat sports coupe that is 172.5" long, 73" wide, and 50.9" tall, making it slightly longer than a current-model Nissan 370Z and around five inches shorter than the previous fourth generation Supra. Its shape is reminiscent of past generations with a short wheelbase, arched fenders, an elongated nose, and wide rear bumper. The front of the Supra comes to a prominent point with a large central grille flanked by large air intakes on either side. The front lighting signature includes six-lens LED headlights behind an L-shaped LED daytime running light/turn signal. The hood of the GR Supra wraps around into the fenders to accentuate the curves and create a smooth look. The A-pillars are black which separate the glass from the body of the car to create a cockpit look outside and are intended to remind you of the older Toyota 2000GT as is the roof of the Supra which features a double-bubble type of shape.
The side profile has a very clean roofline and a prominent character line that comes up from the bottom of the doors to define the rear wheel arches and stretches all the way up to the rear decklid in one fluid motion. 18" cast aluminum 10-spoke wheels come standard on the GR Supra 2.0 while the GR Supra 3.0 comes with 19" forged aluminum twin-spoke wheels and a dual tone finish. Both sets of wheels are wrapped in high-performance Michelin summer tires. The wheel designs compliment the body of the car, fill the wheel arches, and are positioned well with minimal overhangs.
Around back Toyota has integrated a rear spoiler into the hatch rather than offer the add-on wing that the previous generation had. The integrated spoiler works well on the new model while paying a bit of homage to past Supras. LED taillights outline the shape of the lights and at the center of the rear bumper is a SUPRA badge in its iconic scripture. The lower portion of the rear fascia has a trapezoidal design that is extends around the lower portion of the car to give it the race-car look. It's black rather than the color of the car and in the back is where the reverse lights are integrated at the center in the form of a cluster of 15 circular LED lights. Whether you opt for the 3.0 or the 2.0, both models are nearly indistinguishable from each other outside of the wheels.
Climbing behind the wheel of the GR Supra 2.0, drivers will first need to watch their head, and then can get comfortable in the sport seats that swallow the driver. It is a two-seat vehicle so the cabin is tighter but all of the controls are very driver-centric and within reach. While Toyotas typically have decent interiors, the BMW influence can be felt in the Supra. Materials are all very high quality and controls such as the shift knob and buttons are more reminiscent of BMW models. Drivers are surrounded by touches of carbon fiber trim and face a standard 8.8-inch high-resolution digital display instrument cluster. At the center is a digital tachometer with the engine speed and gear selector. The side displays can both be customized to show current speed, entertainment selection, fuel economy, navigation, and more. A sport leather wrapped steering wheel includes column mounted paddle shifters, controls for entertainment, and cruise control.
Sitting atop the center of the dashboard is an 8.8-inch touchscreen that can also be controlled via a jog dial adjacent to the gear selector. The jog dial was very easy to use with twist or press controls and is appropriately placed. It comes standard with a 4-speaker sound system, USB/Bluetooth Connectivity, and Supra Command. Supra Command is a feature pulled direct from BMW that is touch sensitive and lets you use your fingers to write in addresses for the navigation system and zoom in and out of the map. An optional Safety & Technology Package ($3,485) adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is good because there's not really much room for added cords. Also included in that package is an upgraded 12-speaker 500W JBL Audio, touchpad rotary control, speed limit information and more. A Qi-compatible wireless charging is available on 3.0 models, but not the 2.0.
Standard black Alcantara leather seats are well bolstered to provide driver and passenger comfort. On the 2.0 model, the seats require manual adjustment while the 3.0 models offer 14-way power adjustable heated seats. The seating position is low and very comfortable despite being in a relatively small space. Headroom is surprisingly sufficient which is also thanks to the aforementioned double bubble roof design. Visibility is ok, but somewhat limited by the small windows. Rear cargo area is 10.2 cu.ft. which doesn't sound like much but it is larger than many competing sports cars such as the Nissan 370Z's 6.9 cu.ft, MX-5 Miata's 4.59 cu.ft, or the Camaro's 7.3-9.1 cu.ft. There is also access to the rear cargo area between the two seats.
All GR Supras comes equipped with a number of intelligent safety features such as a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, rearview camera with parking aid, and vehicle stability control. Additional options available in the Safety & Technology package include dynamic radar cruise control, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, and parking sensors with emergency braking.
Regardless of which GR Supra you opt for it is going to turn a lot of heads... in fact more than any other car I've ever driven. Perhaps the Nitro Yellow paint had something to do with it, but it's undeniable that the new GR Supra is a conversation piece. Many people reminisced with me of the older generations while complimenting the new one. And while I live in a car-obsessed bubble aware of all the latest auto news, I was surprised how many people didn't realize that the Supra was back on the market. The Supra's return has spawned many debates as some felt that it's not a true Supra because of the BMW partnership, but to them I say let's just be thankful we have a new sports car to talk about rather than another crossover. Change isn't always a bad thing and in the case for the GR Supra, the partnership with BMW allows it to be an attainable sports car that looks and performs well for $43,000.
First Impression Summary:
Test Vehicle: 2021 GR Supra 2.0
* Exterior Color: Nitro Yellow
* Interior Color: Black Alcantara Leather
* Notable Options: Safety & Technology Package ($3,485), Special Paint Color ($425)
* MSRP as tested: $47,895
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