Photo: Toyota
Last time we’ve heard anything of the Japanese brother of the 2019 BMW Z4, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada let it slip that the plan was to make a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car to take on the Porsche 718 Cayman. But Akio Toyoda wouldn’t have that, even if BMW was willing to go forward with this layout.
These being said, the Supra transitioned to a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe that uses the CLuster ARchitecture from BMW. A lighter, more focused Supra GRMN is in the offing for the 2020 model year, but the question is, what will happen after that?
At the top of the lineup, the GR Super Sport Concept will be put into production with a Le Mans prototype-inspired powertrain and 1,000 horsepower at the very least. Think of it as an indirect successor to the Lexus LFA, which used to be the crowning achievement of the Toyota Group back in the day.
Somewhere between the Supra and GR Super Sport, the automaker could revive two blasts from the past. Speaking to Road & Track, the assistant chief engineer on the Supra let it be known that “what will come next depends on the market needs.”
Going further into detail, Masayuki Kai told the motoring publication “that the Celica could return as an all-wheel drive compact performance coupe.” There’s also the possibility for the MR2 to come back, “or maybe it could be a completely different model. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Reading between the lines, something is cooking over in the Gazoo Racing laboratories. That something would complement the Supra nicely in the high-performance lineup, but on the other hand, sports cars aren’t selling that well in this day and age.
“A single company cannot afford to invest in all the tooling for parts and components,” said Kai, adding that “a sports car requires a lot of specific components that you cannot share with other cars.” The 86 – BRZ – FR-S trio developed with the help of Subaru springs to mind, and knowing this intel, the revival of the Celica or MR2 implies a partnership in a similar fashion to what the Z4 is for the Supra.
At the top of the lineup, the GR Super Sport Concept will be put into production with a Le Mans prototype-inspired powertrain and 1,000 horsepower at the very least. Think of it as an indirect successor to the Lexus LFA, which used to be the crowning achievement of the Toyota Group back in the day.
Somewhere between the Supra and GR Super Sport, the automaker could revive two blasts from the past. Speaking to Road & Track, the assistant chief engineer on the Supra let it be known that “what will come next depends on the market needs.”
Going further into detail, Masayuki Kai told the motoring publication “that the Celica could return as an all-wheel drive compact performance coupe.” There’s also the possibility for the MR2 to come back, “or maybe it could be a completely different model. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Reading between the lines, something is cooking over in the Gazoo Racing laboratories. That something would complement the Supra nicely in the high-performance lineup, but on the other hand, sports cars aren’t selling that well in this day and age.
“A single company cannot afford to invest in all the tooling for parts and components,” said Kai, adding that “a sports car requires a lot of specific components that you cannot share with other cars.” The 86 – BRZ – FR-S trio developed with the help of Subaru springs to mind, and knowing this intel, the revival of the Celica or MR2 implies a partnership in a similar fashion to what the Z4 is for the Supra.
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