Attention purists! The Toyota GR Supra finally arrives with a manual gearbox and seasoned with less weight for its 340 hp

Sports car enthusiasts have a reason to be happy. Toyota will give continuity in Europe to the GR Supra  , which will receive a significant novelty: it will finally be equipped with a manual gearbox.

This has been confirmed by the Japanese brand in a press release, in which they take the opportunity to add that  the current eight-speed automatic transmission will no longer be associated  with the 3.0 340 hp engine, remaining only available for those who opt for the  258 . block hp 2.0 .

And it is that, since its launch, the GR Supra has received numerous criticisms for the impossibility of having  three pedals and a traditional gear lever  in a sports car designed for fun (  including drifting  ). A disadvantage whose root lies in its mechanical kinship with the BMW. Z4, a model that has practically abandoned manual gearboxes.

a wish granted

Now, the Japanese brand has remedied this by implementing a six-speed transmission which, in addition,  has the iMT technology  that  the GR Yaris also uses  . This electronic system rotates the engine in the gear ratios to equalize the rotation of the engine with that of the gearbox, replacing the famous heel-toe maneuver.

But the drivetrain is also the cornerstone of an update to the GR Supra, focused on  extracting greater efficiency from its platform  and  affordable fun  for all types of riders, no matter what. or their ability to drive.

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In this sense, the transmission change translates into  a weight reduction  that Toyota estimates at around 21.8 kg. Likewise, some new 19-inch forged wheels reduce another 16.5 kg more, rounding off a total "thinning" of 38.3 kg.

This lightening is complemented by a  suspension and steering tune  that includes new mounts for the stabilizer bars and a harder damper setting. On the other hand, the software of elements such as the power steering, the stability control or the driving modes are revised in order to retain the feeling of control  when driving at the limit .

This new electronics even authorizes certain licenses such as the 'Track' mode (which will be more permissive with skids) or  the 'Hairpin+' function  , which authorizes a slight slippage of the rear wheels during full acceleration to get out of hairpins or hairpin bends. .

The GR Supra 2022 will be marketed in Japan this fall and should arrive in 2023 at dealerships on the Old Continent. Toyota France has yet to reveal pricing,  but has already confirmed that there  will be a limited launch edition  with the 3.0 340hp engine, a manual gearbox and a matte white tone as the exclusive color.