Toyota Supra name top pick for sports car – report

Toyota_FT1_Studio_002

Toyota’s upcoming sports carbuilt in collaboration with BMW – hasn’t been given an official name yet, but we’ve called it the Supra for so long that it’s practically become synonymous with it. Now, Toyota engineers are apparently pushing to make that name stick, according to CarAdvice.

Global chief engineer Tetsuya Tada told the Australian publication that he wants to see the Supra name go onto the car. “I love the Supra and I love the name Supra,” he said. “It’s historically important to Toyota. We’re pushing for the name Supra for the new car we are [jointly] developing with BMW.”

Tada added that the collaboration with Munich was going well, with extended testing and development being conducted around the world. “I’d say the partnership is going well, very smooth,” he said. “We’re testing all over the world too, not just Fuji or Nurburgring, but all [around] the world.”

1998001_1994_Supra_Turbo

To be positioned above the 86, the new car will be a long-awaited successor to the long-departed MkIV Supra – which last left the factory in 2002 – and will be inspired by the stunning FT-1 concept that debuted at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

Along with its BMW sibling – tipped to be called the Z5 – the new Supra is expected to utilise a hybrid powertrain, with a BMW engine (likely a straight-six), electric motors and capacitors providing four-wheel drive. The cars are also tipped to benefit from BMW’s expertise in carbon fibre, joining the likes of the BMW i3, i8 and G12 7 Series in incorporating the material in their architecture.

BMW board member for sales and marketing Ian Robertson has previously said that despite the two cars sharing plenty underneath, both companies have drawn up a proposal that will position the Supra and Z5 at different areas of the sports car market. “The one thing we’re clear on now is that a platform for both companies can work,” he said.

BMW Z5 1

The BMW Z5, a relative of the next Toyota Supra, spotted testing

“The cars in themselves don’t actually need to be positioned the same. The platform can spawn two positionings. The concept works, the platform can deliver and now we have two proud sets of engineers – one group German, one group Japanese – who are each fighting and arguing for the car they want.”

The two companies have been working together on both cars since 2012; however, they have now gone their own separate ways in terms of development. We’ve previously brought you spyshots of a convertible Z5 being tested on the road, and although the Toyota has yet to been seen, it is understood that it is in a similar stage of development.

SPYSHOTS: BMW Z5


GALLERY: Toyota FT-1 Concept

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Cannot use Supra anymore cuz Honda alredi ciloked for its kapcai. Serve toyota right for holding long time onto the name w/o coming out with a new car.
    Honda Supra FTW!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
  • alldisc on Aug 01, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    The concept in which Mk IV came from was indeed very interesting. A car model many enthusiast may never knew it existed. It even joined the KL auto show in the year 1990 at Pwtc. The concept was known as Toyota 4500GT. Try Google. You may not find anything abt it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • Hmm... Much Hmm... on Aug 02, 2016 at 5:44 pm

      The 4500Gt was the concept the sparked the creation of Toyota Soarer/Lexus SC400 Coupe. The 2000GT is the predecessor for Supra. Besides the 2000GT was done for Nissan by Yamaha but Nissan rejected it and Toyota bought the rights to it. So technically the people who spawned the Supra’s predecessors were Yamaha.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Pretty sure SuBRA cannot beat NSX. Could be just another lame joke like GT86

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 9
  • Stop dreaming, start saving !!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Jimmy on Aug 01, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    When I am not good at driving dynamics/handling, I definitely want to berkawan dengan BMW to steal his technology.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
  • Jimmy on Aug 01, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    This is going to beat Ferrari.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Supra2JZ-GTE on Aug 02, 2016 at 11:10 am

    The Legend Re-born!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
 

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