By Chad Simon
More than 160 SEMA-member manufacturers and media registered for a Measuring Session featuring the return of the Toyota Supra after a 21-year hiatus. The event was hosted by the SEMA Garage, located in Diamond Bar, California, April 3–4.
“There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the ’20 Supra,” said Sam De La Garza, Toyota vehicle marketing and communications small car senior manager. “The reasons why people buy cars like this is they’ve got to be fun to drive and look great, and the Supra delivers on both of those things really well. We’re here at SEMA to excite and inspire the aftermarket. We want them to see this car and be inspired to go out and do some fun things with it. We are giving SEMA and aftermarket suppliers a first look at the car, and to me, it’s exciting to give them the ability to experience the legend that the Supra is.”
The fifth-generation Supra was developed in collaboration with BMW and designed to perform like a pure sports car. Powered by a 3.0L turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine producing 335 hp and mated to an eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters, the Supra also features standard active differential and adaptive suspension. It can hit 0–60 in 4.1 seconds.
 Four ’20 Supra models were on display in various locations throughout the SEMA Garage for SEMA-member manufacturers to measure. |
Based on Toyota’s ’14 FT-1 concept, the Supra has a wide stance, and its lightweight body is due to its aluminum-constructed hood and doors. The Supra rests on standard 19-in. forged aluminum wheels and are wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. A double-bubble roof and an integrated rear spoiler, a 97.2-in wheelbase and a 62.8-in. front and 62.6-in rear track suggest that the Supra is engineered for agility and aerodynamics.
Eight color options include Absolute Zero White, Downshift Blue, Nitro Yellow, Nocturnal Black, Phantom Matte Grey, Renaissance Red 2.0, Tungsten Silver and Turbulence Grey. Available only in Absolute Zero and Nocturnal color options, the Launch Edition features red mirror caps, black wheels and a red/black interior.
The interior was designed for race-bred functionality, with features including an 8.8-in. high-definition color monitor and gauges, a driver’s right knee pad, genuine carbon-fiber trim, a color head-up display and a standard 6.5-in. dash-mounted touchscreen interface.
Starting at around $50,000, the Supra will be available for sale in summer 2019 as a ’20 model. The first 1,500 units are designated for the Launch Edition.