While Toyota may never have been an automaker synonymous with high-performance sports cars, it did have one model that collectors and car enthusiasts hold in high regard, even today. That car is the Toyota Supra. Produced from 1978 to 2002, the Supra did what few other sports cars can: It combined stylish looks and mind-blowing speed into one affordable package. However, Toyota finally came to their senses in 2015, promising the return of the Supra for the 2018 model year. Here’s a quick glance at all the legendary sports car will have to offer.
Two Engine Options
Prior incarnations of the Supra came with a single engine option, although this V6 engine was more than capable. For the 2018 model year, working jointly with BMW, Toyota plans to unveil two engine options for the Supra. Surprisingly, the more powerful engine is a hybrid model. This 3.0 liter, turbocharged V6 with a lithium-ion battery provides an insane 473-horsepower. The second option is BMW’s 3.0 liter, V6 twin-turbo engine that pumps out a more-than-respectable 335 horsepower. Regardless of which engine you choose, the Supra is still destined to burn up the road.
A Sexy Exterior
The argument for the greatest aspect of the Supra is perhaps split down the middle. One-half of enthusiasts would cite the Supra’s awesome and raw engine power as the defining factor of the brand name. The other half would say that the body and exterior are the foremost aspects. Either way, the 2018 Supra is sure to please both parties, especially when they see the new body design. Toyota sheds the BMW influence for this part of the project, relying on their own designs. The result is a beautiful mix of modernized curves, brilliant headlight and taillight design, attractive 19-inch wheels, and a racing spoiler to boot. You can’t make everyone happy all the time when it comes to body style, but the Supra won’t leave many critics.
Under the Body
Another interesting feature of the new Supra is that it’s getting a totally new chassis and other underpinnings. However, the designs for these plans are coming entirely from BMW’s engineering department. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; BMW has had far more success with sports cars than Toyota, and thus, their designs will undoubtedly go a long way in improving handling, aerodynamics, and top speed.
The FT-1 Concept
If you really want to get a true sense of what the car may look like when it’s finally through the design process, look at the FT-1 concept car for answers. From a purely aesthetic perspective, the FT-1, and in turn, the Supra will look more like a two-seater supercar than any other mass-production sports car. This is great news for people who love a car that looks like it cost $100,000 when in reality its price is less than half. Still, the FT-1 is the closest you’ll see to the Supra until Toyota unveils it sometime in the near future.
Now that the Supra is beyond the rumor stage and in pre-production status, fans of the brand can start to drool with anticipation. An exact release date hasn’t yet been released, so until then, you’ll just have to find a way to calm yourself down.
Image via Toyota.com
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