Muscled-up new Toyota GR Supra almost here

Toyota will reveal pricing and specs for its more powerful, better-handling Toyota GR Supra in December, which is set to roll into dealerships before Christmas.

Powered by a beefed-up version of joint-venture partner BMW’s B58 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, the updated 2021 Toyota GR Supra will get the same 285kW/500Nm tune as the BMW Z4 M40i.

That means power increases by a handy 35kW from the current 250kW engine tune, and while torque remains unchanged, the coupe’s 4.3sec 0-100km/h sprint (via launch control) could be shaved by a tenth of a second or two.

Toyota has also taken the opportunity to dial up the Supra’s dynamics via recalibrated and firmer suspension. It will also benefit from new chassis braces under the bonnet to improve front-end rigidity.

A variety of other minor changes inside and out are anticipated as Supra enters the 2021 model year.

Toyota has also been working on a hard-core Supra GRMN version that is tipped to get the same high-output BMW-sourced S58 engine as found in the BMW M3.

This twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six produces 375kW/600Nm in the BMW M3 Competition, so Toyota’s track-ready Supra GRMN should be a genuine scorcher.

Expected to make use of a dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Toyota GRMN Supra could also be handed a sticker price of around $160,000, if reports from Japan are to be believed.

At the other end of the scale there is a less powerful, more affordable four-cylinder turbo-petrol version of the Toyota Supra, but it’s not offered in Australia and is not anticipated to join the range with the latest update.

Instead, the Japanese company will shore up its four-cylinder sports car offering with the more powerful 170kW Toyota GR 86 which is set to break cover early in 2021.

Toyota currently only has two vehicles in its GR (Gazoo Racing) stable – Supra and Yaris – but the sub-brand is rapidly expanding. The next model is expected to be the Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch.