GR Supra is a rare bird indeed. Sadly, a 2-seater sports car with rear wheel drive and a straight six petrol engine is a dying breed. Electric car uptake is increasing, and most brands are not developing any new fossil fuel drivelines, nor are they bothering their pretty little heads with anything as sullied making the exiting petrol and diesel engines any better.

At least GR Supra got a power boost.

The Engine:

Toyota added 35 extra kilowatts, bringing the power figure to a decent 285kw/500Nm. The turbo-charged 3.0L engine sings like Winehouse on a bender, mournfully rasping out a soundtrack that makes your blood rush and your head swon.

01-100 comes in in 4.1 seconds, and there are drive modes that alter throttle, engine response, and suspension damping, but the star of the star of this show is the glorious manual transmission. The 6-speed unit is mated to a delightful clutch with a Goldilocks amount of sensation. The notchy feel lets you know the right gate has been found, and the readout on the dash makes the driver aware of which gear he is in, just in case.

Other Updates:

Apart from new wheels, you’d be hard pressed to pick the updated model from the original, and that’s a good thing. Some hated the looks of both the Toyota GR Supra Coupé and her BMW Z4 convertible sister, but I love them both.

BMW was a bit mean about the GR Supra having the latest iDrive system, so the Z4 is ahead, getting the very latest system while GR Supra got an older version. Wireless CarPlay is standard, and at last count, Toyota had no plans to start charging a subscription fee for the privilege. Cheeky old BMW hits buyers up for ongoing charges in some of their models, and outrage if the feature is fitted to the car at the factory. They’re all at it though. Tesla unlocks extra performance via an over-the-air update, in other words, the car can already do it, but unless the owner forks over extra cash, the feature stays locked away.

Video Review: 2023 2023 Toyota GR Supra Manual Review – is it better than the automatic? – GayCarBoys review – Alan Zurvas GAYCARBOYS 

Video Review: Toyota GR SUPRA GTS Mini Review  #toyotagr86 #gaycarboys Alan Zurvas GAYCARBOYS #shorts

ABOVE: Toyota GR Supra

The Price:

Pricing for both manual and automatic is the same. The only thing the buyer has to do is finger the brochure adequately enough to decide whether the extra shekels are worth the $97,000 GTS over $87,000 GT trim.

You can see the full list of tasty treats can be found HERE in the GR Supra Brochure.20230510_GR Supra_Online Brochure

The Drive:

Firing the frisky filly into life is a joy. You get a deep and raspy affirmation where the 3rd pedal can be pressed. Selecting reverse needs a bit of welly, but the notchy feel of the forward gears is a joy to behold.

GR Supra is the James Bond of Toyotas. It is the dinner-suited charmer who can take your head off without a second thought. ride is firm even in the softest drive mode, and brakes and steering have a sporty yet gentle feel. There isn’t a huge amount of space inside, so pack thoughtfully for that romantic getaway. Then again, who the hell needs clothes on a romantic tryst anyway?

It’s difficult to see how anyone could find fault. The handling is rear-wheel-drive heaven with just a smidge of give before the nannies slap you on the wrists.

We did a couple of mountain pass trips enroute to the Cottages “up the farm.” The boys were not backward about their critique, with Casper, Max and Ethan telling anyone who would listen, that the “BMW” was ok. I had expected a little more. They all thought GR Supra was over-designed and that the cabin was “a trifle anal retentive.”

The reversing camera is a touch on the small side, but everything else got top marks.

What the boys thought:

Casper:

GR Supra puts on a bloody good show. It kicks much of its opposition in the cobblers, why? Because it looks as mean as it acts, without having a face like a bulldog.

It isn’t a car for you if your back is a bit how’s-your-father.

We took it to Cottages, but stuck strictly to the good roads. The way up the back passage leaves much to be desired, and I didn’t fancy a buggered tyre on a car sans spare. The infotainment system could use a freshen up but it still sounds good, and has wireless carplay.

The fuel use is scary if you are always getting stuck in.

Max:

GR Supra begs to be treated daringly, not sparingly.

It is a weekender for sure, because even singles have a bunch of friends to cart around. You can’t always be taking 10 cars everywhere you go. Everyone who drives it loves it, but that’s not enough. It has to give the buyer value for money, and at $100,000 I wonder who it appeals to.

I don’t love the looks, but I love the drive.

Ethan:

GR Supra is a belter, and the manual is an absolute darling. So many models can’t be had with anything but an automatic, and sure, some of them are great, but most are rubbish. And. Don’t even get me started on CVTs which are worse than horrible.

GR Supra drives like a Wild Mouse. It has a foot in both camps: cosy gents tourer, and manic track car. It won’t see much track action, but it will make a great way to get out of town on Friday night.

Alan:

I love it now as much as I did when I first drove the original model 4 years ago. The addition of an extra pedal has reinvigorated GR Supra, giving it just the boost in the arm it needed.

The boot is small and there isn’t much in the way of storage elsewhere, yet GR Supra gets a podium finish every time. City driving does it no justice, you have to get out and about. You have to find yourself some tasty mountain passes or lake-side drives. There, GR Supra is simply marvelous.

GR Supra distills what it means to be a sports car into a few, elegant strokes of the designer’s pencil. There is no doubt that the manual feels better connected to the road, closer to sainthood, where it belongs.

GR Supra Price:

GTS $97,000

GT $$87,000

Engine: 3.0L Turbo Straight 6

Power: 285kw/500Nm

0-100: 4.1seconds

Trans: 8 speed automatic with Sports mode

Econ: 7.7l/100km, 91ron petrol

CO2: 177g/km

@toyotaaustralia, @toyota, @toyotausa, #grsupra, #alanzurvas, #gaycarboys

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