The Supra MK5 made its way to the production lines in 2019. Toyota started making it in order to revive the legendary Supra car line. Unlike its predecessor, the MK4, the Toyota Supra MK5 is quite the underrated vehicle. Just recently however, Toyota added a manual gearbox to the mix.
This option is available on the 2022 model. On paper, a manual Toyota GR Supra should be an awesome sports car. But how great is this transmission really? And what else can we expect from the Supra GR? Read the piece below to find out for yourself.
Why Is It Called GR Supra?
GR is an abbreviation of Gazoo Racing. Toyota’s high performance GR division is more than a decade old. It has been catered towards Toyota’s racing cars since its inception. However, since the new Supra came out in 2019, Toyota has been bringing high-spec GR versions to the regular consumer.
The result? You get more options in the Toyota lineup. Sure, the Supra is a full-on sports car but the GR can do quite the makeover for a regular Toyota. We’ve seen how much hype was created by the recent debut of the GR Yaris. The same can be said for the GR Corolla as well.
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The A91 MT Edition Toyota GR Supra
The following covers the 2023 Supra’s offerings, with a special focus on the new transmission:
The Gearbox
Let’s get to the main news first, the Toyota GR Supra now offers a stick-shift manual. This is in an era where the traditional manual gearbox is dying out when you look at high performance cars. However, the company has put these gearboxes in their GR cars to truly cater them for purists.
The A91 MT Edition Toyota GR Supra comes with an all-new 6-speed manual. The regular version of the car is fitted with an 8-speed auto. The new gearbox beats it when you look at the final drive ratio it brings. It is shorter at 3.46, so the acceleration’s better. The factor’s also responsible for the car’s top speed.
Hence you not only get better acceleration overall and a better top speed; you also get a better launch from the Supra. The upshifts will be better and the downshifts will be more exciting as well. They’ve given it a bigger clutch as well so that it can handle the engine’s power better.
But it’s not just the hardware that’s improved. The iMT actually helps out in optimizing the torque delivery. Also, if you feel that’s it’s getting in the way of your driving, you can simply turn it off when you engage the car’s sport mode.
The company has also made some changes to ensure that the setup’s less straining on you and the vehicle. For starters, they’ve rearranged the center console area to give you a better reach on the lever.
The new tranny has been given a gear-lever ratio to optimize the shifting from the driver’s end. Also, the setup is lighter as well, at about 7oz fewer than the regular transmission. But that’s not the only part that’s lighter about this car.
Other New Features
The overall car has lost some weight at about 90 pounds. They’ve done this by stripping away some of its luxuries such as the power adjustments, the leather seats, etc. This new Supra will have its own sets of wheels as well, measuring at 19 inches. These will also be lighter and they contribute to the figure above.
Toyota has added some goodies to make the car more exciting as well. For instance, they’ve added a Hairpin+ setup that optimizes the car’s wheel spin when you put your foot down in the bends. The new suspension and steering setups on the car also help improve your drifting capabilities.
Other than these performance-enhancing improvements, they’ve added a new 12-speaker sound system developed by JBL. You’ll also be able to visibly differentiate the car from a regular Toyota GR Supra with its decals.
Verdict – A91 MT Edition Toyota GR Supra
This new 2023 Supra looks to be quite an improvement. Toyota clearly knows what type of audience it is aiming this car at. It should be noted however, that the company is only offering this setup with larger 6-cylinder engine and not on the basic one. So, if you’re looking for more efficiency, this car isn’t for you.
