2020 Toyota Supra finally revealed, set to be sold in the Middle East

After a long and protracted publicity trail of teaser videos, camouflage shots and breadcrumbs of leaked information, the 2020 sixth-generation Toyota Supra has been fully unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show.Dubai Skyline

A co-development with BMW and built by Magna-Steyr, the new GT car from the Japanese marque boasts a turbocharged straight-six engine boasting 335 horsepower which is mated to an 8-speed automatic – the only transmission available for the Supra. The shape of the headlights appears to pay homage to the previous generation Supra, a car that became a pop culture icon thanks to its starring role in the ‘Fast and Furious’ action film series.

Interestingly, this new generation of Supra only improves upon the previous 1995 car by around 10 horsepower, a very modest gain considering the two decades between them. However, Toyota have claimed acceleration figures of 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds and a top speed approaching 290km/h as well as highly engaging driving feel and handling dynamics. The chassis is part of the collaboration with BMW, as is the engine. Inside, the Supra is very clearly a grand tourer – with heated leather seats, infotainment system and a whole host of all the modern creature comforts you’d expect from a flagship car.

Toyota’s stake in the Middle Eastern market has been primarily in the SUV sector, but the Japanese marque will be looking to target other sports/GT manufacturers like Porsche, Audi, and BMW with this car. Akio Toyoda, CEO of the brand, has announced his intention to introduce more enthusiastic-oriented cars into the range with help from Toyota’s motorsports partners Gazoo Racing. Perhaps a revival of the punchy, lightweight MR2 sports-car may even be on the cards.

There has been no official word on how much the Supra will cost from one of the company’s Dubai showrooms, but current pricing on a basic-specification straight-six car in the US is around $51,000 (around 185,000AED).

The new Supra faces some challenges – how will it face up against the BMW Z4 that it shares an engine, chassis and other components with? Is 335 horsepower enough for a sports car in 2020? Is it as good as the fan-favourite previous generation Supra? Only time will tell, but Toyota are definitely hoping that their new offering can live up to the name.