Toyota Supra

Toyota Supra
Toyota GR Supra (J29/DB)
Overview
ManufacturerToyota
Also called
  • Toyota Celica XX (Japan, 1978–1986)
  • Toyota Celica Supra (international, 1978–1986)
  • Toyota GR Supra (2019–present)
Production
  • April 1978[1] – August 2002
  • March 2019[2] – present
Body and chassis
ClassSports car/grand tourer (S)
Body style3-door liftback/fastback coupé
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Chronology
PredecessorToyota Celica (A20/A30)

The Toyota Supra (Japanese: トヨタ・スープラ, Hepburn: Toyota Sūpura) is a sports car and grand tourer manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation beginning in 1978. The name "supra" is derived from the Latin prefix, meaning "above", "to surpass" or "go beyond".[3]

The initial four generations of the Supra were produced from 1978 to 2002. The fifth generation has been produced since March 2019 and went on sale in May 2019.[4] The styling of the original Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was longer.[5] Starting in mid-1986, the A70 Supra became a separate model from the Celica. In turn, Toyota also stopped using the prefix Celica and named the car Supra.[6] Owing to the similarity and past of the Celica's name, it is frequently mistaken for the Supra, and vice versa. The first, second and third generations of the Supra were assembled at the Tahara plant in Tahara, Aichi, while the fourth generation was assembled at the Motomachi plant in Toyota City. The 5th generation of the Supra is assembled alongside the G29 BMW Z4 in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr.

The Supra traces much of its roots back to the 2000GT owing to an inline-6 layout. The first three generations were offered with a direct descendant to the Crown's and 2000GT's M engine. Interior aspects were also similar, as was the chassis code "A". Along with this name, Toyota also included its own logo for the Supra. It was derived from the original Celica logo, being blue instead of orange. This logo was used until January 1986, when the A70 Supra was introduced. The new logo was similar in size, with orange writing on a red background, but without the dragon design. That logo, in turn, was on Supras until 1991 when Toyota switched to its current oval company logo. The dragon logo was a Celica logo regardless of what colour it was. It appeared on the first two generations of the Supra because they were officially Toyota Celicas. The dragon logo was used for the Celica line until it was also discontinued.[citation needed]

In 1998, Toyota ceased sales of the fourth-generation Supra in the United States.[6] Production of the fourth-generation Supra for worldwide markets ended in 2002. In January 2019, the fifth-generation Supra, which was co-developed with the G29 BMW Z4, was introduced.[7]

  1. ^ Toyota Celica Parts Catalogue 1977–1981. Toyota.
  2. ^ Karr, Anthony (25 March 2019). "First 2020 Toyota Supra Rolls Off Magna Steyr Assembly Lines". Motor1. US. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Toyota Traditions". Toyota Global Site. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  4. ^ Mills, Matthew (15 January 2019). "2020 Toyota Supra price, specs and release date". carwow. UK. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  5. ^ "FAQ: What is the history of the Toyota Supra?". toyota.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  6. ^ a b "Vehicles : Supra" (Press release). US: Toyota. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Toyota Supra And BMW Z4 Could Be Built Together By Magna Steyr". Motor1. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.