Have we reached the point where the Toyota Supra is acknowledged universally -and not just from JDM fans- as an appreciating classic? Good, it was about time.
Jay Leno gets a visit from a rather lovely right-hand drive turbocharged Toyota Supra and Paul Walker’s younger brother Cody to pay tribute to the late star of the ‘Fast and Furious’ movie franchise.
Cody Walker is one of the people organizing a car show in memory of Paul that will take place in Southern California on May 20th. The proceeds from the event will benefit Walker’s charity foundation.
The MKIV Toyota Supra was one of Paul’s favorite JDM cars. The popularity of the six-cylinder Toyota skyrocketed since it made an appearance on the first Fast and Furious film, with low-mileage examples now commanding borderline-silly money.
The most sought-after version is of course the twin-turbo Supra fitted with the 2JZ-GTE engine and a manual transmission. The 25-year import rule means that early Supras are now eligible for import from Japan, giving more options to fans in the US.
These cars officially produced 276hp (280PS) from their turbo straight-sixes, but the real power figure was always closer to the 320hp mark. Back in the day, Toyota claimed a 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 177mph (285km/h).
But the biggest charm of the MKIV Toyota Supra isn’t the overbuilt nature of the powertrain, nor the balanced handling: it’s the way it looks. Few cars can pass the test of time and the fourth-gen Supra is definitely one of them. Does it look like a 25-year-old car to you?