When it first announced the return of the Supra, Toyota didn’t plan on offering a manual transmission. However, outcry from enthusiasts convinced the automaker to offer a three-pedal option, and new data suggests that it was right to listen to them.
Although the manual transmission is popular among enthusiasts, it is a niche option within the wider automotive world. While the industry has moved away from investing in production of the gearbox type, a small group of automakers has found a way to keep them alive for the enthusiasts who say it garners a closer connection with the car being driven.
The Toyota GR Supra could be considered as one of the success stories of that new drive, because nearly half of all buyers have chosen the transmission, per Road & Track. The outlet reports that since the transmission was introduced for the 2023 model year, 47 percent of all examples featured the new transmission option.
Read: The Manual 2023 Toyota GR Supra Is An Ode To Enthusiasts
That the transmission is only available on the more expensive, 3.0-liter model makes the fact that Toyota sold 1,216 examples of it all the more impressive. However, the 500 A91-MT Edition models are likely included in the tally, and since that was a limited edition model, it may have an inflating effect on sales.
Announced last spring, the transmission in question is a six-speed unit provided by BMW (on whose platform the GR Supra is based). However, Toyota took pains to customize the transmission, removing unnecessary elements to reduce weight, and modifying the gear ratios to help it feel quick.
In addition, Toyota recently revealed that the linkage and shifter are new, and that it developed the i-MT rev-matching software specifically to make the transmission feel better for drivers. Its hard work has paid off, and not just on the sales charts. Our own Stephen Rivers had a chance to drive the model last year, and said that he expected most buyers to come away highly satisfied.
“We actually drove an automatic Supra back to back with the manual and they feel like considerably different cars in practice,” said Stephen. “The automatic is still as athletic and, in some situations, it’s quicker, but the manual was a lot more fun. The automatic feels like a cruiser while the manual seems to encourage more rowdy behavior.”
