The current Toyota Supra is a good sports car but its use of a BMW powertrain has long rubbed some enthusiasts the wrong way. However, the Supra could win over some detractors if rumors about a manual version prove to be true.
To the surprise of many, Toyota decided to launch the new Supra exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission despite acknowledging before the car’s unveiling that it had developed a manual version. A new report now claims that the car manufacturer has given the green light to the manual Supra and that it could launch this year.
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Speaking with The Drive, an unnamed Toyota dealership source apparently said that the car is “confirmed”. This follows on from a report in late 2021 that suggested Toyota’s plan was to initially only offer the entry-level 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model with a six-speed but that the decision has since been made to instead offer it for the flagship 3.0-liter turbo-six.
If true, a manual version of the Toyota 3.0 could serve as the perfect rival to the forthcoming Nissan Z which will be offered with both a Mercedes-sourced automatic transmission and the same six-speed manual as the 370Z.
As if rumors about a manual Supra weren’t enough to get you excited, there is also talk about the car manufacturer reportedly readying a high-performance GRMN variant that could borrow the 3.0-liter twin-turbo S58 inline-six of the BMW M3, where it produces 473 hp and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque in the standard version and 503 hp and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque in the Competition.
