Toyota Gives Supra A Manual, Skips Engine That Needed It Most

The sun shined a minimal brighter when Toyota teased that the Supra was getting a handbook transmission. The deficiency of a stick-change disqualified Toyota’s halo sports auto for lots of lovers, and whilst it is however a excellent equipment, it generally felt like a thing was missing. That modified Thursday, as Toyota finally confirmed that the guide Supra is true — for some consumers.

Update April 29, 2022, 4:20 p.m. ET: This tale has been up-to-date with new info about the origin of the Supra’s manual.

Very first, the good information. Toyota suggests it went to terrific lengths to engineer this transmission and make it play wonderful with the BMW-sourced 3.-liter turbocharged inline-six. BMW does not offer this motor with a handbook, so Toyota experienced to do a good deal of legwork to notice a handbook Supra. Here’s what some of that entailed, from Toyota’s press launch:

The engineering staff modified an present transmission housing, driveshaft and equipment set and taken off features that were being not expected, such as the acoustic package deal, which lessened body weight. At the coronary heart of the transmission is a newly engineered big diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. With a bigger friction area and a much better spring, this new element has the superior-effectiveness capacity acceptable for use with the GR Supra’s high-torque engine.

The freshly formulated 6-pace handbook gearbox also options an clever Handbook Transmission (iMT) programmed with new software that prioritizes sporty efficiency. When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to enhance motor torque at the minute of clutch engagement and launch on downshifts, the software has been fantastic-tuned for reliable efficiency. The iMT is set as the default but, if the driver prefers, it can be switched off in Activity mode.

To prevent a sluggish get-off and a minimal in-gear acceleration come to feel, the remaining drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra computerized) to 3.46 (in the GR Supra MT). The result is reaction and gearing appropriate for sporting activities auto effectiveness.

Next Toyota’s announcement, The Travel independently noted on Friday that the six-pace is, much like the Supra by itself, of BMW origin. It is a ZF device “tuned by Toyota,” in so much as the Japanese automaker swapped out some sections for other people — like the aforementioned massive-diameter clutch, bolstered spring and the design and style of the shift knob:

“The areas used in the gearbox occur from a mix of ZF made guide transmissions, but the sections blend is special to GR Supra,” a Toyota spokesperson advised The Travel. “Toyota partnered with ZF and BMW on the style/structure of shift lever/pedal, determination of remaining gear ratio, tuning of iMT [rev-matching and upshift smoothing] purpose, and shift truly feel.”

This Supra-particular gearbox even gets its personal, special transmission code in just BMW’s parts catalog: GS6L50TZ. For what it’s well worth, the code for the manual uncovered in the overseas and a lot less strong BMW Z4 sDrive20i takes place to be GS6L40LZ, according to this SupraMKV forum put up. Per BMW transmission designation guidelines, the change involving “L50T” and L40L” implies a deviation in transmission “type” and gearset. The “GS6″ and “Z” bits of the codes indicate a 6-velocity handbook and ZF as the manufacturer, respectively. For further more reference, the guide identified in the present M3 and M4 is selected GS6-45BZ.

G/O Media could get a fee

Streamin’ United states
Makes it possible for you to use a bunch of streaming products and services in 1 position, grants access to dwell Television many thanks to factors like YouTube Television set, and can be managed employing your voice.

Talking of the shift knob, Toyota suggests ergonomics were being a consideration far too. Generating place for a manual in a car that wasn’t initially made available with a person can be a bit of a bear. Once again, from the manufacturer’s launch:

Near attention was also compensated to how a guide shifter could be accommodated in the driver’s cockpit. The lever ratio was especially established to lower the hard work expected to make shifts and have interaction reverse equipment. When the fat and form of the 200g gear knob, alongside with the top quality of shift engagement, have all been specifically described. Ergonomics ended up also prime-of-head, as the console unit and situation of the generate mode selector had been adjusted to give a 1.7-inch clearance among the shift knob and the control panel.

Toyota didn’t announce pricing for the handbook Supra. That information will arrive this tumble, soon before 2023 types hit showrooms.

Here’s the catch: this six-pace will not be supplied on the 2.-liter 4-cylinder Supra in any potential. Honestly, I do not know if a handbook could have saved that car or truck I never know if everything could salvage the lesser Supra when the GR 86 and now the prolonged-awaited GR Corolla also exist in Toyota’s lineup. My colleague Steve thinks that no one would bother to obtain a 2. Supra with a manual in opposition to these alternatives, and he’s almost certainly correct.

To me, a guide 3. would make the 2. Supra an even even worse proposition than it already was, a vehicle that lives in the shadow of its massive sibling. Maybe it exists simply as a foundation for modifications, but how numerous 2. house owners are carrying out 2JZ swaps anyway? I’m all for a cheap entryway to general performance — specially for people expert sufficient to make up the variation with wrenching — but the 2. is only about $8,000 considerably less than the 3., and this is Toyota’s flagship. It should really be a qualified athletics car in all its variants.

Toyota will also supply a constrained-version Supra with the manual equipped, known as A91-MT. Only 500 of these will be crafted, with the requisite gearbox and an exceptional cognac interior for North The usa. Regardless of which design Supra you get, if you spec yours with a stick change, you’ll get a pink badge on the again, so everybody is aware of you acquired the finest Supra — and, maybe, to twist the knife a little when anyone pulls up in an earlier, car-only Supra.