The 2020 refresh that Malaysian JDM enthusiasts have been waiting for.
Bored stiff during the MCO and is looking for a fun toy to blow some money on? How about the brand new Toyota Supra now with more power.
The Toyota Supra, or more properly known the GR Supra where GR stands for Gazoo Racing, was just unveiled globally last year. But Toyota Malaysia today unveils a heavily updated 2020 Supra only a year on from launch. A rarity in the car world seeing that updates, especially as major as this only comes about when the model in question has been on the market for a while.
To the JDM fans, this is the update that has already been seen overseas and has been talked about to death in foreign publications. However seeing that the supra isn’t exactly a hot seller locally, the 2020 update has only arrived now.
The big headline for the update to this 5th generation JDM legend is the performance.
A 14% bump in horsepower to 388 hp from a measly 335 hp for its BMW derived 3.0 straight six is an impressive achievement, even if maximum torque remains the same at 500Nm. Toyota claims that this significant power gain only a year on since the car was launched is thanks to new piston designs, engine tuning and most significantly, a six port two-branch manifold replacing the two-port one of the 2019 launch models.
Thanks to this significant performance bump, the century sprint is now down by 0.2 seconds to 4.1 seconds. Handling is also claimed to be improved a year on with a new Performance Rod to improve lateral stability of the Japanese sports car on the limit.
The Japanese automotive giant claims that these improvements made to the Supra is part of its Kaizen practice, the Japanese philosophy of constant improvement. That being said, shrewd observers to the sports car scene may be right to point out that these major improvements done so soon is so that the Supra can catch up to its more appealing rivals like the featherweight Alpine A110, the BMW M2 Competition and most importantly the sports car benchmark, the Porsche Cayman.
This may be an attempt by Toyota to draw back some customers from those fine sports cars some of which are even offered with the enthusiasts choice of transmission. The Supra to date still only comes with one choice of 8 speed ZF automatic transmission, even while it’s platform-mate the BMW Z4 does indeed have a six speed row your own option in its base four cylinder form.
Currently priced at RM 589,987 thanks to the Government’s sales tax exemption, the 2020 GR Supra still comes with all the bells and whistles seen last year. The interior is still pretty much BMW, but when has anyone complained about getting a BMW interior?
Heads up display, memory seats, blind spot monitor, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and a 12 speaker JBL sound system is standard in the GR Supra, along with that superb styling and that legendary JDM nameplate.
However, is this enough to tempt buyers from what is essentially a BMW in a Supra suit?
More details can be found in the press release below.
Press Release: Latest Toyota GR Supra Gets A Power Boost
As the first global model to be developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, the Toyota GR Supra has made a remarkable impact wherever it has been launched, including Malaysia. It draws on Toyota’s sports car heritage, affirming its status as a sports car in its purest form, designed and engineered for the joy of driving.
As the fifth generation of a legendary model in automobile history, the GR Supra is a fully forward-looking sports car, brimming with an advanced powertrain, chassis and safety technologies. In the spirit of Kaizen (the Japanese philosophy of ‘constant improvement’), the now available 2020 GR Supra has already received upgrades which further extend its capabilities. Specifically, the 3-litre engine has additional output which will deliver better performance numbers and reward drivers of all skill levels.
The upgrades centre around the turbocharged inline-six engine which now delivers 285 kW (388 PS) of power at between 5,800 and 6,500 rpm, a 14% increase. Maximum torque remains at 500 Nm, but peaks through a slightly wider range of 1,800 rpm – 5,000 rpm instead of 1,600 rpm to 4,500 rpm.
The engineers increased the power output not just by tuning but also added a new dual-branch exhaust manifold with 6 ports (instead of two), which improves heat management. A new piston design also reduces the engine’s compression ratio from 11:1 to 10.2:1.
The improved engine with the torque band raised retains the eagerness to rev with turbine-like smoothness. With the standard 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, the acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is 2/10ths of a second quicker, shortened to 4.1 seconds from 4.3 seconds.
Complementing the extra power are some chassis improvements aimed at increasing roll resistance and enhanced cornering stability. Taking note of feedback from high-performance drivers in the time that the car has been in the market, the latest GR Supra has received chassis retuning with a new Performance Rod added to increase lateral rigidity.
Apart from the fitment of red-coloured brake calipers with the Supra logo at the front, other technical specifications and features remain the same. The Deep Blue Metallic exterior finish is no longer available but customers can still choose from seven sporty and striking colours – Prominence Red, Lightning Yellow, White Metallic, Silver Metallic, Ice Grey Metallic, Black Metallic and Matte Storm Grey Metallic.
Standard with the GR Supra are the Adaptive Variable Suspension and Electronically-Controlled Limited-Slip Differential (LSD).
Safety is always a priority for Toyota, and even more important with models like the GR Supra which is capable of very high performance. Toyota Supra Safety technologies enable drivers to take the car to its limits in safety. These technologies include a variety of active systems which work together to assist the driver when necessary. Additionally, there are features like the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Intelligent Parking Sensor with Emergency Braking Function and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
The standard interior features of the GR Supra are a blend of luxury and functionality, with a driver-centric approach. For example, there’s a head-Up Display which allows the driver to keep his eyes on the road ahead while being aware of important operating information. A memory function for the power seat makes it easy to set and retain a preferred seating position if there are other’s sharing the car. As for entertainment while on those long journeys, the JBL audio system has nothing less than 12 speakers strategically placed around the cabin for the best sound quality.
Priced from RM589,987 (*with sales tax exemption and without insurance) and RM611,880 (*without sales tax exemption and without insurance), the new GR Supra is now available for booking from selected authorised Toyota GR Garage showrooms nationwide. For further information, customers can visit Toyota.com.my or call the Toyota freephone line 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682).
