5 facts to know about the 2020 Supra
The new Toyota Supra is here. Finally. And while some people may bemoan the fact that the iconic sports car has a BMW engine under the hood and no manual transmission, there’s no denying that the Supra is a looker. Especially in person, where its compact size accentuates the aggressive curves. And if you’re as smitten as we are, check out the gallery at the bottom of this article.
It’s almost the same size as a Toyota 86
Maybe it’s the general dimensional bloat of all new vehicles, or that fact that the FT-1 concept that previewed the Supra was much larger, but the Supra is surprisingly compact. In fact, it’s just 5.8 inches longer than the Toyota 86. The entry level Toyota sports car actually has four inches more wheelbase than the Supra. Compared to the Corvette, the Supra is 4.4 inches shorter.
It starts under $50,000
Toyota announced pricing for the Supra starting at $49,900. The first 1500 cars, which go on sale this summer, will be special Launch Edition cars in red, black, or white for $55,250. In between will be the Premium model for $53,990, which adds a bigger center touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, head-up display, and a 12-speaker stereo system.
Fernando Alonso wants one
The two-time Formula 1 champ and 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning driver was a surprise guest at Toyota’s press conference. Alonso has driven the car during development, saying that he likes the car’s light weight and responsive steering. Of course, he’s paid to say that, but getting the seal of approval from a high-level driver like this is a rare accolade for sports cars. As part of scripted banter, Alonso asked Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda if he could have the first car. Akio then took the chance to promote the first production Supra going up for charity auction at Barrett-Jackson later this week.
The digital dashboard has a big, center tachometer
A center tachometer originated out of racing necessity. That is, on a track a big rev counter is the most important information for the driver. With an eight-speed automatic transmission, Supra drivers won’t need to execute any heel-and-toe downshifts, but the bright LED screen’s main feature is a nice nod to the car’s sporting pretensions.
Most of those vents aren’t real
Yes, the Supra looks good. That does not, however, mean that it’s a perfect design. And if you’re a fan of functional aerodynamics, well, there are a few unnecessary, non-functional elements on the Toyota. The little sweep on the door goes nowhere, as do the front and hood vents, and those air extractors at the rear. All these extra bumps and inlets add some character, but all the black plastic with no airflow cuts back on the car’s purposeful look.
