Toyota Supercars

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Welcome, gearheads and car enthusiasts! Welcome to the electrifying world of Toyota supercars, where raw power, sleek designs, and unmatched performance collide. From the roaring engines of the Supra to the futuristic brilliance of the GR Yaris, Toyota has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive excellence. In this article, we\’ll take a deep dive into the heart of Toyota\’s supercar legacy, exploring the models that have set the tracks ablaze and captured the imaginations of driving enthusiasts worldwide.

Toyota\’s Supercar Ancestry: From Humble Beginnings to Motorsport Dominance

Toyota\’s journey to becoming a renowned automaker of performance vehicles can be traced back to the 1960s, a period of rapid technological advancements and a burgeoning interest in motorsports. During this era, Toyota\’s engineers set their sights on creating automobiles that would not only provide exceptional on-road performance but also showcase their technical prowess on the track. This pursuit laid the foundation for Toyota\’s legacy as a builder of supercars and ignited its passion for motorsport dominance.

Toyota Sports 800 and 2000GT

The Toyota Sports 800, introduced in 1965, marked Toyota\’s entry into the realm of sports cars. With its lightweight fiberglass body, potent 800 cc engine, and aerodynamic design, the Sports 800 embodied the essence of a true sports car. Its agility and impressive performance made it an instant hit among enthusiasts, establishing Toyota\’s credibility in the emerging market for compact sports cars.

Building upon the success of the Sports 800, Toyota embarked on a bold project in collaboration with Yamaha to create a world-class grand tourer: the 2000GT. Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1967, the 2000GT stunned the automotive world with its sleek and alluring design, inspired by the iconic Jaguar E-Type. Powered by a sonorous 2.0-liter inline-six engine, the 2000GT offered blistering performance and handling, positioning it as one of the most desirable sports cars of its time. Its limited production run of only 351 units has cemented its status as a legendary collector\’s item.

The Triumph of the Celica and Supra

The 1970s witnessed the birth of two iconic sports cars that would become synonymous with Toyota\’s performance legacy: the Celica and the Supra. The Celica, initially introduced as a compact sports coupe, quickly evolved into a formidable rally car, dominating the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the 1980s and 1990s with its AWD system and potent turbocharged engines. Its victories on the rally stages burnished Toyota\’s reputation for building reliable and capable performance vehicles.

The Supra, initially launched in 1978 as a luxurious grand tourer, underwent a transformation in the late 1980s to become a high-performance sports car. With its powerful inline-six engines, including the legendary 2JZ-GTE, and nimble handling, the Supra quickly became a favorite among enthusiasts and tuners alike. It starred in the popular \”Fast and Furious\” movie franchise, further cementing its image as a Japanese sports car icon.

The Genesis of the Supra

From Endurance Racer to Street Legend

The Toyota Supra lineage traces back to the Toyota 2000GT, a sleek sports car developed in collaboration with Yamaha in the late 1960s. Although the 2000GT was a commercial failure, its design and engineering prowess laid the foundation for future Toyota sports cars.

In 1970, Toyota introduced the Celica, a kompakte car available in coupe and liftback variants. The Celica\’s success as a performance car inspired Toyota to develop a more powerful version, the Celica Supra. The \”Supra\” name, derived from Latin, means \”above\” or \”beyond,\” signifying the model\’s position as the pinnacle of the Celica range.

The Origins of the A Series Engine

At the heart of the Celica Supra was the legendary A series engine. Developed by Toyota engineer Tatsumi Itoh, the A series was a compact, lightweight, and highly tunable inline-six engine. The initial A series engine, designated the 1M, featured a single overhead camshaft and a displacement of 2.0 liters.

The 1M engine quickly gained a reputation for its durability and power potential. Toyota engineers continuously refined and evolved the A series, introducing twin overhead camshafts, electronic fuel injection, and turbocharging. The pinnacle of the A series engine family was the 2JZ-GTE, a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged behemoth that produced over 320 horsepower in factory trim.

The First-Generation Celica Supra

The first-generation Celica Supra, introduced in 1978, was a striking two-door coupe with a long hood, short deck, and pronounced fender flares. It was powered by the 1M engine and offered a choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

The Celica Supra quickly gained a reputation as a capable sports car, with nimble handling and impressive acceleration. It also became a popular choice for enthusiasts who sought to modify and customize their vehicles. The first-generation Celica Supra remained in production until 1986, solidifying its place as a classic JDM sports car.

The Supra Mk IV: A Masterpiece Unveiled

A Technological Tour-de-Force

The Supra Mk IV was not merely an upgrade over its predecessors; it was a complete reimagining. Toyota engineers spent countless hours refining every aspect of the car, from its aerodynamics to its suspension. The result was a vehicle that was both incredibly fast and incredibly precise. The Mk IV\’s drag coefficient of just 0.31 was one of the lowest in the industry, and its advanced suspension system gave it exceptional handling and stability. Even today, the Mk IV is regarded as one of the most technologically advanced sports cars ever produced.

The Iconic 2JZ Engine

At the heart of the Supra Mk IV was the legendary 2JZ inline-six engine. This masterpiece of engineering was known for its incredible power and reliability. The 2JZ was available in two versions: a naturally aspirated variant producing 220 horsepower and a turbocharged variant producing 276 horsepower. Both engines were incredibly smooth and responsive, giving the Mk IV blistering acceleration and a top speed of over 160 miles per hour.

The Supra Mk IV\’s Motorsports Success

The Supra Mk IV was not just a technological marvel; it was also a formidable competitor on the racetrack. In 1998, the Mk IV won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, becoming the first Japanese car to ever do so. The Mk IV also achieved great success in other racing series, including the Japanese GT Championship and the Super GT Championship. Its dominance on the track cemented its status as one of the most iconic sports cars of all time.

Toyota\’s Return to Supercars

The FT-1 Concept and the Revival of the Supra

In 2014, Toyota unveiled its FT-1 concept car at the Detroit Auto Show. The FT-1 was a sleek, aggressive-looking coupe that hinted at Toyota\’s aspirations to return to the supercar market. Just two years later, Toyota confirmed that it would be reviving the Supra nameplate with the release of a new fifth-generation model.

The Fifth-Generation Supra

The fifth-generation Supra was co-developed with BMW and debuted at the 2019 North American International Auto Show. The new Supra was a departure from its predecessors, featuring a more modern and aerodynamic design. It was powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 335 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque. The Supra was praised for its handling and performance, but it also drew criticism for its lack of originality.

Toyota\’s New Era of Supercar Performance

The Supra\’s return marked a new era of supercar performance for Toyota. The company had not produced a dedicated sports car since the discontinuation of the Celica in 1999. The Supra\’s success proved that Toyota could still compete with the likes of Porsche, Jaguar, and Audi in the high-performance segment. The Supra also helped to raise Toyota\’s profile among enthusiasts.

In addition to the Supra, Toyota has also hinted at the possibility of developing other supercars in the future. In 2022, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda stated that the company was \”working on a new sports car.\” While no details have been released, this statement suggests that Toyota is committed to continuing its resurgence in the supercar market.

Toyota\’s supercar heritage dates back to the 1960s with the release of the 2000GT. The 2000GT was a limited-production sports car that showcased Toyota\’s engineering prowess. It was followed by the Celica in 1970, which became one of Toyota\’s most successful sports cars ever. The Celica was discontinued in 1999, but Toyota has continued to develop high-performance vehicles, such as the 86 and the GT86.